We call on the Government to support the transition to a four-day, 32 hour working week across all sectors, with no impact on pay.

Over 200 UK companies, employing more than 5,000 people from a range of sectors have already adopted a four-day working week - demonstrating that productivity can be maintained or even increased while providing workers with more time to rest, pursue personal interests and spend time with their families.

Nonprofits, marketing, technology, creative arts and design, engineering, manufacturing, banking, entertainment, and trades and construction have adopted the model to great success.

The 9-5, 5 day working week is a legacy of a past industrial age and no longer suits the realities of modern life. We are long overdue an update.

Today, British workers put in the longest full-time working hours compared to almost every country in the EU and at the same time we have one of the least productive economies. Research shows Britons now work 27% more hours on average than Germany and have missed out on a wider European trend of less hours on the job.

A four-day week improves employee well-being by providing more time for rest, reducing burnout, and contributing to mental and physical health. It also helps employers to attract and retain talent, as workers increasingly seek better work-life balance.

Evidence from trials and studies suggests that the four-day week leads to higher productivity per hour worked, as employees become more focused and motivated. With fewer working days, the focus shifts to achieving results, not just filling hours.

By embracing this change, the UK can lead the way in creating a healthier, more productive, and sustainable future for workers and businesses alike.

We urge the government to take action to make this change a reality.

Emma Thackray, a mother-of-one who works at the Women's Budget Group, supports the four-day week model. She, like many others around the UK, found a healthier work-life balance after her employer adopted a 30-hour workweek with no reduction in pay.

This flexible schedule allows her to balance her responsibilities as a single mother while continuing to provide for her son. After her marriage ended and her ex-husband was diagnosed with cancer, Emma faced the challenge of juggling full-time parenting with her career, a situation worsened by the lack of nearby family support. However, her workplace’s new policy meant she could adjust her hours around her son's school schedule, making it possible to be present for him while still earning a full-time salary.

This balance has improved her overall well-being and gave her the space to take care of herself, something she previously struggled to do.

Emma says: “Almost immediately, the switch in my hours made the impossible seem more possible. I no longer had to choose between being able to provide for my son financially and being physically present for him. What’s it going to take to finally stop for a second and admit that the world of work isn’t working for anyone, let alone people who are trying to juggle it alongside caring responsibilities?”