Short and sweet

At least one part of Charles' coronationThe ceremony where a King or Queen is crowned. united Britain. The ceremony was marked with an extra bank holidayThe name for a national public holiday in the UK, Ireland and some other places. Most people do not go to work., giving millions of people an extra day off work. It came a week after another public holiday. And it will be followed by a third before the end of the month. 

Britain has had a taste of a four-day working week. And many now want more. On a normal year, Britain has just eight bank holidays - well below the EUEuropean Union. An economic and political union of 27 countries. average of 11.

The UK government has rejected the idea of more days off. It claims that bank holidays damage economic activity. Offices close, shipping halts and factories cease production. Official figures say this would cost £1.36bn.

Yet there is mounting evidence that this is wrong. ConsultantsConsultants are people whose job it is to give expert advice. PwCPricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (PwC) is the world's second largest professional services company. It advises companies and organisations on accounting, tax and more.  think the cost is £500m smaller. Research finds that business quickly bounces back from the day off. And public holidays are very good for shops, restaurants, attractions and leisure activities. 

In 2020, economist Douglas McWilliams suggested that an extra national holiday could boost the country's economy by £500m. And he thinks we should go further. McWilliams writes: "If one additional day off is a good thing, what about making it permanent and moving to a four-day week."

Some countries and companies have already switched. Ninety percent of Iceland's workforce are now able to work four days rather than five. MicrosoftAn American company, and the largest seller of computer software in the world. Japan says that the four-day work week increased productivity by 40%.

After a recent six-month trial in the UK, 56 of the 61 participating companies chose to make the change permanent. Researchers concluded that the "vast majority of companies were satisfied that business performance and productivityThe rate at which an individual, company or group produce work or make something. were maintained".

Britain has a productivity problem. The British work more hours than most other European countries but generate less economic output. Total working hours in the UK are 11% higher than those in Germany. And yet an hour's work generates £46.92 of output, as compared to £55.83 in Germany. Fewer, more efficient hours might help Britain make up the difference.

Many believe a shorter week has mental health benefits. At the end of the UK trial, 39% of employees reported feeling less stressed, 54% reported fewer negative emotions and 71% reported less burnout. As one manager in the trial said: "My personal opinion is that the four-day week simply makes you happy."

And it might be good for the environment too. A trial in the US saw workers drive and use computers less, pushing down harmful emissions.¹

Yet some oppose the change. It could create unfairness: some organisations, such as emergency services, cannot just close for a day. It could encourage people to rush, to get everything done quickly, and make mistakes as a result. And it could be difficult to implement. It might require employers around the world to make the change together.

An extra day off could just cause people to overburden the remaining four. An internal survey at software company Qualtrics saw 72% of employees say that a four-day week would make each working day longer.

Yes: The results are in, and the four day week has passed with distinction. Economists, mental health experts and environmentalists think working fewer days is good for business, wellbeing and the world. 

No: Changing working patterns is not easy. Reducing the number of days worked might just increase the length of the days that remain. And this might create its own wellbeing problems.

Or... Everyone works differently. And work ebbs and flows. The important thing is not to reduce working hours across the board, but to make them more flexible based on how individuals work best.