Last summer, more than six dozen British companies experimented with moving to a four-day workweek. With pay. The test lasted six months. What happened, British and American analysts reported in Phys.org.

Sixty-one companies were involved, employing a total of 2,900 people. The spheres of activity were different: trade, financial services, catering, entertainment etc.  The first result is clear reduction of stress component, less fatigue. Even the microclimate at work and at home has improved, employees state.

There were 65% fewer sick days. Employee turnover decreased by 57% compared to the same period of the previous year. Amazingly, company revenues grew by an average of 1.4%.

What drove revenue growth? Employee-driven productivity grew. There was less wasted working time, more willingness to look for more efficient ways to work. On the part of management, there were also useful shifts: tedious meetings sharply reduced in time.

Bottom line: none of the companies wanted to go back to a five-day workday. The majority decided to continue the experiment, and 18 firms immediately switched the collective to a permanent four-day workday.