Since the pandemic, more than 100,000 workers in the UK have transitioned to a full-time four-day work week, as indicated by recent analyses. Approximately 1.4 million individuals reported working full-time on a four-day schedule between October and December 2024, marking an increase from 1.29 million during the same period in 2019, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The percentage of individuals in the UK working a four-day week has risen from 9.8% to 10.9%, with a total of 2.7 million people embracing this work arrangement, including part-time workers. Notably, around 100,000 additional workers indicated they were in part-time roles comprising four days a week during the same period.
The ONS figures do not clarify whether those working shorter weeks have compressed their hours or accepted lower pay. The 4 Day Week Foundation, which advocates for a four-day work week with no pay reduction, reports that over 420 companies employing more than 12,000 workers have adopted this model since the pandemic began.
South Cambridgeshire district council recently voted to permanently adopt a four-day week for its 700 employees, allowing them to complete their work within 80% of their contracted hours without a pay cut. This decision followed a successful 27-month trial that resulted in increased efficiency in processing planning applications and housing repairs, as well as improved employee motivation.
Other councils are also exploring or trialing four-day work weeks, despite earlier governmental guidance discouraging such arrangements. The current Labour government has since reversed this position, allowing local councils the autonomy to manage their workforce as they see fit.
In Scotland, a pilot program began in early 2024 involving two public sector organizations, with results expected to be published soon. Marketing, technology firms, and charities are among the early adopters of four-day work weeks in the UK, according to 4 Day Week Foundation research.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/aug/23/uk-workers-four-day-week