Four-day work week trial in Scotland boosts productivity and worker wellbeing

Trial of Four-Day Workweek Shows Positive Results in Scotland

Higher productivity and better employee well-being were observed in a year-long test of a four-day workweek conducted by the Scottish government.

Two public organizations, South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) and Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB), participated in the trial, which began in early 2024.

With a combined workforce of 259 employees during the study, both entities moved to a 32-hour workweek for a year without reducing pay or benefits, while ensuring service standards remained unchanged.

AiB and SOSE staggered employees’ off days to maintain normal operations, while part-time staff saw a proportional reduction in their working hours.

Workers at both organizations reported lower stress levels, increased job satisfaction, and an improved balance between work and personal life.

At SOSE, nearly all staff (98%) said the trial boosted motivation and morale. There was also a drop in sick leave, including a 25% decrease in absences linked to mental health reasons.

SOSE supports economic and community development in southern Scotland, while AiB oversees insolvency matters, similar to the agency in England and Wales.

Advocates and some analysts argue that a four-day week improves workers’ well-being by providing more time for rest and reducing mental strain, while also helping organizations by increasing motivation and improving staff retention.

The Autonomy Institute, which managed the trial for the Scottish government, found that both bodies successfully reduced working hours while showing a rise in productivity.

SOSE maintained its response times to clients throughout the trial, while AiB’s key operations remained stable after the adjustment.

Employees at both organizations experimented with new ways of working during the trial, such as better planning, task-sharing, time blocking, digital processes, and revised meeting structures.

Both SOSE and AiB extended the four-day week beyond the initial trial period—SOSE for six months and AiB for two.

Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, which advocates for shorter workweeks without pay cuts, described the outcomes as “extremely encouraging.”

He stated: “The four-day, 32-hour workweek should now be implemented across Scotland’s public sector without delay.”

The foundation notes that over 420 companies, employing more than 12,000 workers, have adopted a four-day week since the pandemic. Additionally, South Cambridgeshire District Council became the first in the UK to make the policy permanent last July.

The Scottish government said the findings will guide broader reforms in public services.