Research from global job search platform talent.com has found the majority of workers would expect a four-day week to consist of longer working hours with one in seven stating that up to 10 hours per day would be reasonable.
The research, among 1,325 respondents, found workers believe that a four-day working week would enable them to achieve better wellbeing and mental health, amidst a national mental health crisis.
Over half (54 per cent) believe that a four-day week should consist of a minimum of 8.25 hours per day, whilst a third (33 per cent) would expect to work 36 hours – averaging 9 hours per day. Nearly one in seven respondents stated that 10 hours per day would be reasonable. According to the latest ONS data the average number of hours currently worked in a week for full time workers is 36.4 (averaging 7.28 hours per day).
The main reasons respondents stated they would support a four-day week were to improve their work life balance and wellbeing, by enabling more time for leisure and rest.
82 per cent believe that a four-day-week would enable better work life balance, while 55 per cent believe it would lead to improved wellbeing and 48 per cent to reduced stress.
71 per cent said this would be achieved because they would have more time for leisure and rest, whilst one-third stated that more time for childcare or family caregiving would be beneficial.
However, 64 per cent said they would be unwilling to take a pay cut to work a four-day week at a time when the cost-of-living is at its highest. Indeed, the top work benefit, cited by 76 per cent, was an annual salary increase, followed by more vacation days (53 per cent) and the flexibility to work when you want (52 per cent).
Commenting on the findings of the study, Noura Dadzie, Senior VP of Sales at Talent.com commented: “We are now living, and working, amidst a time of economic turbulence, experiencing a national mental health crisis in a post-pandemic world. Our research demonstrates that the UK workforce would be far better able to navigate this crisis if a four-day work week were implemented, as a collective solution to a number of these major challenges.
“82 per cent believe their work-life balance would improve within a four-day week, and around one in two people believe it would reduce stress and improve wellbeing. In fact employees would be willing to work far longer hours, to enable this extra day of leisure and rest, which could also be highly beneficial for the economy and for working parents too.”
