According to research from Owl Labs, as many as 73% of UK workers are willing to take a pay cut in exchange for a four-day workweek. This is an increase from 65% in 2023, showing a growing desire for more flexible work arrangements.
Owl Labs’ CEO Frank Weishaupt stated that many employees seek more autonomy in their schedules. The report highlighted that 50% of workers expressed a need for a better work-life balance as their main reason for considering a job change, compared to 41% in 2023.
“It’s clear that a significant number of UK workers are tired of the traditional hustle culture that celebrates long hours, chained to their office desks,” added Frank.
Dominic Ashley-Timms, CEO of performance consultancy Notion, expressed how the statistics signal widespread frustration with current work practices. Although more flexibility may help retain employees, he warned that implementing a four-day workweek won’t solve deeper issues related to job satisfaction. He noted that dissatisfaction stems from poor relationships with managers and unengaging work.
According to the survey, nearly nine out of ten employees (89%) said that having a supportive boss is crucial for remaining in their jobs. A similar percentage (90%) highlighted that salary is just as important, placing both factors on equal footing.
In addition, the research revealed that as many as 47% of employees would quit if they lost flexible working privileges, while 53% of managers observed more productivity in hybrid teams.
The four-day workweek is definitely gaining momentum across Europe following successful pilot programs, with countries like the UK and Iceland demonstrating that the 100-80-100 model—maintaining 100% productivity 80% of the time with no reduction in pay—has led to significantly happier employees.