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Wales Online
03-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
4-day working week brought in at Welsh company employing hundreds of staff
4-day working week brought in at Welsh company employing hundreds of staff It's one of 17 companies which took part in a national trial to test a four-day working week with no increase in hours or reduction in pay Bron Afon in Cwmbran has successfully completed a four-day working week trial (Image: Google Maps ) A Welsh company has confirmed its plans to continue with a four-day working week, following the success of a national trial. Housing association, Bron Afon, was one of 17 companies to take part in a six-month pilot, which concluded with all participants opting to extend the shorter working week. The trial, which began in November, 2024, was organised by the 4 Day Week Foundation and involved nearly 1,000 workers across a range of industries. The aim was to test whether reducing the traditional working week from five days to four would impact productivity and employee wellbeing. Bron Afon, which boasts a workforce of around 400, claimed the results had been overwhelmingly positive. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here The Cwmbran-based organisation shared that it had been able to maintain its performance and customer satisfaction, while also seeing significant benefits for its employees. Alan Brunt, chief executive of Bron Afon Community Housing, said: "Almost as soon as we started talking about it, our teams got together to set about making it work which was brilliant. Article continues below "We've closely monitored our performance and customer satisfaction. We're happy with the results so far and will continue to make sure we're delivering for our customers." Nearly two-thirds of workers across all companies involved in the trial reported a reduction in burnout, with 40% saying they had seen improvements in their mental health, while almost half said they felt more satisfied with life overall. Following the 100% success rate, director of 4 Day Week Foundation, Joe Ryle, commented: "With greater knowledge, expertise and experience of what it takes to successfully implement a four-day week, we're really pleased to see such a high success rate. "People are happier, businesses are thriving, and there's no turning back. "We've proved it again and again: a four-day week works and should now be implemented more widely across the economy." Having seen the benefits first hand, Bron Afon is now committed to continuing with the four-day week, with Mr Brunt adding: "I expect that most organisations will be doing this in the next 10 years or so." The campaign's success closely aligns with the results found by a group appointed by the Welsh Government last year. The group, established under the Workforce Partnership Council (WPC), spent a year studying the pros and cons of a four-day working week. The project revealed five major benefits, including: Improved work-life balance: Shorter work hours with no pay-cut help workers better balance work and personal life. Better health: Reduced hours help prevent burnout, lower stress and improve physical and mental wellbeing. Attraction and retention: Boosts recruitment and retention by offering distinctive benefit and effective pay increase (for fewer hours worked). Greater inclusivity: Supports workers with caring responsibilities, fostering a more inclusive workspace. Increased productivity and organisational performance: Due to increased feelings of wellbeing, those who are feeling well rested and happier tend to produce work more efficiently and of higher quality. Article continues below
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
New four-day working week trial has perfect success rate
All of the companies that took part have decided to continue working a shorter working week at the end of the trial. One chief executive praised the pilot and said they "expect that most organisations will be doing this in the next 10 years". New four-day working week trial has perfect success rate The six-month trial began last November and was organised by the 4 Day Week Foundation. According to a report on the trial, organisations involved were able to maintain service levels and key performance indicators whilst observing several benefits for employee wellbeing. It added that almost two-thirds of workers registered a reduction in how often they experienced burnout. Meanwhile, two in five found an improvement in their mental health and almost half said they felt more satisfied with life. Joe Ryle, campaign director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, said: 'With greater knowledge, expertise and experience of what it takes to successfully implement a four-day week, we're really pleased to see such a high success rate. 'People are happier, businesses are thriving, and there's no turning back. 🚨NEW PILOT LAUNCH🚨 This Autumn, join the movement that's redefining the future of work. Start date: Thursday 25th September 🗓️ Our annual UK Four-Day Week Pilot has successfully supported hundreds of companies to move to a four-day week. Find out more via the link below ⬇️ — 4 Day Week Foundation (@4Day_Week) June 2, 2025 'We've proved it again and again: a four-day week works and should now be implemented more widely across the economy.' Bron Afon Community Housing has 420 staff and is extending its pilot further. Chief executive Alan Brunt said: 'Almost as soon as we started talking about it, our teams got together to set about making it work, which was brilliant. 'We've closely monitored our performance and customer satisfaction. We're happy with the results so far and will continue to make sure we're delivering for our customers. 'I expect that most organisations will be doing this in the next 10 years or so.' Will the UK have a four-day work week? Ongoing discussions and trials surrounding the four-day work week in the UK are continuing; however, the Government has previously ruled out immediate plans for a nationwide, mandated four-day work week. The Department for Business and Trade said last year: "We have no plans to impose a four-day working week on employers or employees." Despite this, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has voiced support for a four-day working week. The 4 Day Week Foundation is a group that leads the UK's national campaign for a four-day working week. They are pushing for a four-day, 32-hour working week, meaning no loss of pay for workers. Would you like to see a four-day working week? Let us know in the comments.
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
All 17 firms that trialled 4-day-work week adopt practice PERMANENTLY – as ‘people are happier, businesses are thriving
THE full list of firms offering a four-day week has been revealed, as experts hail "there is no turning back." Since April 2024, workers have a right to ask for flexible work but firms do not have to agree. 1 As of July 2025, over 230 companies across the UK offer employees the chance to work a shorter week, according to research by the 4 Day Week Foundation. This is an increase of 35 more firms, compared to previous research carried out at the end of last year. The organisation recently concluded its latest pilot with a 100% success rate. The six-month trial began last November and 17 companies took part in the study. Alan Brunt, chief executive of Bron Afon Community Housing with 420 staff, who are extending their pilot further, said: 'Almost as soon as we started talking about it, our teams got together to set about making it work which was brilliant. 'We've closely monitored our performance and customer satisfaction. We're happy with the results so far and will continue to make sure we're delivering for our customers. 'I expect that most organisations will be doing this in the next 10 years or so.' The full list of 17 firms who have chosen to carry out a four day work week has not been published yet. Almost two-thirds of workers who took part in the trial registered a reduction in how often they experienced burnout. Meanwhile, two in five found an improvement in their mental health and almost half said they felt more satisfied with life. Woke Scottish Government staff demanded POOL & pay rise to return to office for just TWO days a week Trials for four-day work weeks were initially trialled back in 2022, with 18 UK companies making a permanent change a few months later. Joe Ryle, campaign director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, said the work model should now be implemented "more widely across the economy". He said: "With greater knowledge, expertise and experience of what it takes to successfully implement a four-day week, we're really pleased to see such a high success rate. 'People are happier, businesses are thriving, and there's no turning back." Which companies offer a four day week to all staff? Currently, 234 companies offer a four day working week to their staff with no loss of pay. You can check out the full list below. 3D Issue – Digital 448 Studio – Media 5 Squirrels Ltd – Manufacturing 64 Million Artists – Creative Industries 92 Minutes Ltd – Consultancy Accurise – Accountancy Acuity Solutions – Consultancy Advantage Business Partnerships – Professional Services Advice Cloud – Consultancy Advice Direct Scotland – Charity Agile Communication Agency – Marketing Agricultural Recruitment Specialists – Recruitment AKA Case Management – Healthcare Alliance Publishing Trust – Charity Amity Community Action – NGO Arts Marketing Association – Arts & Entertainment Ascendancy – Digital Atlas Translations – Travel Atom Bank – Banking Autonomy – NGO Awin – Marketing AWO – Law Baker Consultants – Consultancy Barefoot Architects – Architect Barking and Dagenham Giving – Charity Bedrock Learning – Education BiBO – Architect Big Potato Games – Gaming Bimble Solar – Energy BJP Consulting Group Ltd – Consulting Blink – Marketing Bookishly – Retail Boxfish – Consultancy BrandPipe – Technology Breaks – Creative Industries Brett Nicholls Associates – Accountancy British Ecological Society – NGO British Society for Rheumatology – Charity Brook – Charity Butcher Bayley Architects – Architect Cairn Ecology – Consultancy Camlas – Public Affairs Camloc Motion Control – Manufacturing Causeway Irish Housing Association – Housing Centre for Local Economic Strategies – NGO Centre for Thriving Places Ltd – Consultancy Charity Bank – Finance Citizens Advice Gateshead – Charity City to Sea – NGO CIVO – Digital Climate Policy Radar – NGO CMD: Studio (Villainous Games Studio) – Gaming CMG Technologies – Manufacturing Coltech Global – Technology Common Knowledge – Digital Cooked Illustrations – Media Counting King Limited – Consultancy CRASH Services – Professional Services Creatio – Technology Crystallised – Marketing Custom Heat – Construction DataLase – Technology DigiLab – Marketing Digital Guerilla Consultancy – Construction Earth Science Partnership – Engineering Earthly – Consultancy Edith Garland Architecture – Architect Elektra Lighting – Design Element Four – Consultancy Elliott & Company Consulting Engineers Ltd – Engineering Energiesprong UK – Housing Epic HR – Professional Services Escape the City – Recruitment Escentral – Consultancy ESG Gaming – Gaming Esteem Training – Construction Evolved Search – Marketing Flocc – Marketing FMC Global Talent – Recruitment Formedix – Technology Fortem People LTD – Recruitment ForthStar – Gaming Forward Carers – Healthcare Forward Space – Design Four Day Week Ltd – Recruitment Furness Insurance Services – Insurance Future Economy Scotland – NGO Future Projects – Charity Geeks for Social Change – IT Giant Digital – Consultancy Girling Jones – Recruitment Global Partners Digital – Digital Good Ancestor Movement – Finance Gracefruit – Retail Greenpost – Recruitment Gungho Marketing – Marketing Happy – Learning Hello Heat Pumps – Housing Hello Starling – Advertising Highfield Professional Solutions – Engineering House of Hackney – Design Hutch Games Ltd – Gaming Ideal Extraction – Engineering IG-HR – Consulting IMD Solicitors – Legal Independent Food Aid Network – Charity Infigo – IT/Software Intercultural Youth Scotland – NGO Interlink – Technology Jerba Campervans – Manufacturing JMK Solicitors – Legal Kairos Women+ – Charity Kinfolk Network – Not for profit LEaF Translations – Professional Services Legacy Events – Events Lemongrass Marketing – Marketing LIT Communication – Marketing Literal Humans – Marketing London Funders – NGO LoveGunn – Design LUX - The Food & Drink Agency – Advertising – Technology Maggie Chapman MSP – Politics Marketing Signals – Marketing MATS Consultancy – Professional Services Matthew Edwards & Co – Accountancy Mavin Powercube – Technology Melville Housing Association – Housing Merthyr Valleys Homes – Housing Middle Child Theatre – Creative Industries Middleton Co-operating – NGO Mox – Advertising MRL Consulting – Recruitment MSDS Marine & MSDS Heritage – Heritage Muckle Media – Public Affairs Mutual – Technology MycoPunks – Retail Native Ecology – Consulting NEON (New Economy Organisers Network) – NGO Neonhive – Gaming New Vision Digital Marketing – Digital Noteworthy Support – IT/Software Opportunity Green – Charity Oriel Square – Education Original Consultants – Technology Ormiston Wire Ltd – Manufacturing Pale Fox Esports – Sport Paul David Smith Photography – Creative Industries Paul Morgan & Associates Wealth Management Ltd – Finance Peak PEO – Accountancy People – Events Planning Aid Scotland – Charity Pollard Media – Marketing Pool Data – Technology Portcullis Legals – Legal Poteris – Technology PR Dispatch – Public Relations Pressure Drop – Brewery Principles Agency – Marketing Professional Writing Academy – Education PTHR – Design Punch Creative – Marketing PureFluent – Marketing Quality of Life Foundation – Charity Queercircle – Arts & Entertainment Reboot – Marketing Red Giraffe – Marketing Resilience Brokers – NGO Reward Agency – Marketing Richard John Andrews Ltd – Architect Roach Matthews Architects – Architect Safer Fostering – Charity Schuco – Healthcare Scotland's International Development Alliance – Charity Scottish Green Party – Politics SDX Messaging – Consultancy Sensat – Construction SEOMG! – Technology Shout Loud Social – Marketing Sidequest Ltd – Gaming Sinister Fish Games – Gaming Social Enterprise Direct – Professional Services Social For Good – Marketing Softer Success – Consultancy Sounds Like These – Creative Industries Split Banana – Charity SQS – Energy Stagecast – Media STC Expeditions – Travel STOP AIDS – Charity streamGO – Events Studio Cotton – Design Synergy Vision – Marketing T-Cup – Consultancy Tailored Thinking – HR Tai Pawb – Housing Talewind – Gaming Target Composites Ltd – Manufacturing Target Publishing – Media TBL Services – Consultancy Team Custard Kraken – Gaming Technovent – Manufacturing The Beacon – PR The Circle – Charity Think Productive – Consultancy This Is Beyond – Events THRYVE – Recruitment Time Appointments – Recruitment Tribera – Digital Trigger – Creative Industries Tyler Grange Group Ltd – Consultancy Unify Learning & Development – Education Uniqodo – Technology UPAC Group – Manufacturing Vault City Brewing – Manufacturing Venture Stream – Marketing VerriBerri – Marketing Vetro Recruitment – Recruitment Waterwise – NGO We Are Purposeful – NGO Welcome to the Jungle – Recruitment Wellbeing Economy Alliance – NGO Whering – Digital Whyfield – Accountancy Wolf & Moon – Retail Women's Budget Group – NGO Woven Ink Studio Limited – Creative Industries Xaso – Marketing Ynni Sir Gâr – Community Energy You HR Consultancy – Consultancy YWCA Scotland – Charity Zetteler – Design Zync Digital – Marketing FLEXIBLE WORKING RIGHTS All employees have the legal right to request flexible working. Employees can request a change to the number of hours they work, when they start or finish work, the days they work and where they work. If you submit a request, it does not mean it will be accepted by your employer. However, employers must explain why they deny their workers more flexible hours. Up until last year employers could deny any request for flexible working without needing to provide an explanation. Plus, millions of workers are now able to request flexible working from the first day of a new job. HOW CAN I ASK MY BOSS FOR FLEXIBLE WORK To make an official request you will need to fill out a statutory application which can be found on the government website and send this to your employer. If your boss is not keen on letting you exercise your flexible working arrangements, here are a few tips on how to ask for the benefit. Although it is no longer a legal requirement, it may be a good idea to explain to your employer how flexible working will affect their business. If you can prove you can complete your required work on time and to the best of your ability whilst working flexibly it's much less stressful for the employer. Explain how flexible working will benefit your physical, mental and social health. Give as much notice of your need for flexible working as possible, even if this is from the first day. If your request requires you to work fewer hours, this gives the employer enough time to hire another staff member or find alternative means of covering the work. Employers must deal with requests in a 'reasonable manner' Examples include: Assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the application Discussing possible alternatives to the request Offering an appeal process Reasons why your flexible working request could be rejected: Costing the business too much A negative effect on performance and The company being unable to hire more team members
