The finding is part of one of the largest surveys on the subject, following 2,900 workers at 61 UK companies
Imagine if you could work only four days a week, without changing your salary. Sounds like a distant dream, doesn’t it? But a recent study conducted in the UK shows that it is possible.
Research conducted by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Cambridge and the boston universityin the United States, it evaluated 2,900 employees at 61 companies between June and December 2022.
According to the report, reducing the workload to 32 hours per week can have several mental health benefits for workers. This is because, after the adoption of the new working model, a 71% reduction in burnout syndrome complaints, no drop in productivity.
In addition to the reduction in burnout, 39% of employees said they were less stressed and 54% said they had fewer negative emotions. 37% also reported improvements in physical health, 46% less fatigue and 40% fewer sleep disturbances.
Benefits for companies
While the results have mostly been positive for employees, the research team has also observed benefits for businesses.
According to the report, the revenues of the participating companies increased during the six months of the survey, by about 1.4% compared to the previous period of the study. In addition, there was a 57% reduction in the number of employees who quit during the survey.
Among the 61 participating organizations, 56 (92%) will continue with the new routine permanently even after the end of the study. Of the five who have decided not to continue the four-day week, two intend to test the strategy for a while longer.
world trend
Calls to shorten the working week have gained traction in a number of countries in recent years, particularly in Europe. In Iceland, two farm trials showed that reducing the workload did not lead to any loss of productivity. In Brazil, the idea is not yet so popular, but it is already being considered by some companies.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
