Meanwhile amid skyrocketing rates of burnout working
less could be the answer for you.
Results are in from the largest study to date on a four day week work period and I found
that workers in this study we're actually happier and more
productive by the less days they were the office.
Let's bring in our senior reporter Chloe Aiello who's been watching this for us.
So Chloe. What did the study show here?
Well baker the results are in employers and
employees both love the four day work week.
So four day work week.
Global did release the results of its largest trial to date of the four day work week.
61 companies with a total of about 2900 employees across the U. K.
Participated over the course of six months.
In all 92% of businesses plan to continue with the 40 week.
They saw revenue actually increased by 1.4% on average and watch turnover tumble.
The number of staff leaving Fell by 57% during the trial period.
Now as far as employees, about 90% said they quote definitely want to continue.
55% reported an increase in their ability at work,
71% reported reduced levels of burnout and
37% saw improvements and even physical health.
Now the study even lead to men spending more time at home looking after their kids.
I should mention that although this is called the four day week
it actually doesn't require employers to to cut a full day off.
They can actually choose to keep their employees working
five days so long as overall the hours worked or
cut down to 32% and 100% pay is maintained their
you know look for the longest period of time.
I don't think anybody ever thought working from home would have been an option.
So could this potentially catch on here in the United States? Could this happen?
Well it's hard to say right now, but there have been trials in the U. S.
A previous trial followed 900 workers across 33 businesses in the U. S. And Ireland
and found similar results.
After a six month trial, 97% of those workers wanted to continue.
And employers did too because the productivity did not suffer.
Now the results of the study have earned some high profile supporters.
Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted quote
with exploding technology and increased worker productivity.
It's time to move toward a four day work week with no loss of pay.
Workers must benefit from technology, not just corporate ceo. S.
Meanwhile,
local lawmakers in Maryland are mulling a state
sponsored trial for public and private employees.
If the bill were to pass
it would provide up to $750,000 in tax credits to incentivize businesses to
participate and it would be overseen by the Maryland department of Labor.
Okay so Chloe, why are employers
exploring these other alternatives here for this? May be a four day week.
It's a great question. Well workers in the U. S.
And abroad are experiencing burnout levels higher
even than those seen during peak pandemic.
So according to future forum,
of US workers surveyed between November and
December of 2022 reported feeling burned out.
Which represents an all time high since May 2021
globally. About 42% of workers reported feeling burned out.
So it's slightly higher than here in the US. Now.
These feelings are rising amid economic uncertainty,
starts of layoffs loom and companies demand
to return to office for their employees.
So this four day work week could be one way to reduce burnout and improve
retention baker. All right, Claudia yellow. Good reporting as always, Thank you.