Short week: the british study is a success

The short week reaches an important milestone in the UK after the incredible success of the study conducted by 4 Day Week Global. This is the largest experiment in the world on this matter.

These results reached Italy as well. The unions, in fact, have begun to move to introduce the short week driven by the English test results. Fim Cisl already suggest an “Italian” version of the 4 working days. Let’s see all the details together.

What is the short week

Let’s start by clarifying this issue which is not yet well known in our country. By short week we mean the work philosophy that reduces the working week from 5 to 4 days while maintaining the same salary. This is a matter on which numerous experiments have already been carried out with very promising results (such as the British one which we will discuss in a moment).

This transformation is also due to the phenomenon of the digital transformation which has now become vital for many companies. Furthermore, the pandemic has radically changed the priorities of workers who no longer consider only salary, but also other aspects such as:

• smart working
• food stamps
• hourly flexibility
• company philosophy
• workplace

Therefore, the need to be able to reconcile work with one’s private life is setting its mark. And this is exactly where the short week comes into play.

Why should you use it

On paper, there are many benefits, especially for workers, but also for companies:

• More sustainable work
• Greater attractiveness of the company for young talents
• Burnout reduction
• More productivity

Despite having had excellent results, the experiments carried out to date had been relatively small. For this reason, most economists had advised to take the results with caution.

A recent study, however, changed the game.

The british way

The short week is an actual thing in some countries, with a noticeable success. In particular, the most important study in the world on the short week’s effects was recently held in the United Kingdom.

Coordinated by the 4 Day Week Global organization and the UK research center Autonomy, the experiment involved 2,900 employees and 61 companies over a period of 6 months between June and December 2022. Employees worked an average of 34 hours a week receiving the same salary, but with 4 working days instead of 5.

Result? 92% of companies have chosen to continue adopting the short week model and 18 of these permanently. Furthermore:

• There was no negative change in productivity
• There has been greater well-being for the workers
• Improved work/life balance
• Reduction of resignations

And the short week in Italy?

After the positive results in London, the Italian trade unions moved to suggest the adoption of the short week in Italy as well. Fim Cisl had already moved last year at its congress in Turin suggesting a working version project with 4 days of full-time activity and ⅕ of reduced hours. This reduction could also be converted into training or healing loads.

“The news relating to the positive experimentation of the short week in the United Kingdom in 61 companies with interesting results for both companies and workers must also open a comparison between social partners in Italy in the same direction. It’s time to regulate work especially in the manufacturing sector in a more sustainable, free and productive way – says Roberto Benaglia, secretary general of the metalworkers of the Fim Cisl.

The technological and organizational leaps that digitization and work for objectives are taking place in many metalworking companies must spur us to throw our hearts beyond the obstacle. It is possible to rethink company timetables and reduce them not against company competitiveness but by seeking new balances and better results. It is not a question of reducing working hours in a generic way as in the last century but of making work more sustainable and flexible towards people’s needs means making workplaces more attractive, in an era where many workers, especially talented young people, are changing jobs and skills move in the labor market”.

A concrete 100% Made in Italy example is that of Intesa Sanpaolo which voluntarily introduced the short week of 4 days with 9 hours of work per day (always with equal pay) without losing productivity.

Long weekend is the new weekend?

Many are pushing to adopt this new philosophy, but the small-medium enterprises could curb the enthusiasm. In fact, there are many private companies that have decided to return to face-to-face work after the pandemic, giving up the benefits of smart working.

So let’s not expect to see the short week “shortly”.