About 70 companies are taking part in what is thought to be the world's biggest pilot scheme into the working pattern over the next six months.
Companies ranging from office-based software developers and recruitment firms to charities and a local fish and chip shop are taking part.Sam Smith, co-founder of Pressure Drop Brewery in Tottenham, north London, said it felt "like a good time" for the firm to be trying different working practices. She explained that having worked with the business for more than four years and knowing she can do her job has led her to feeling confident she can get her work done efficiently with one day less.
"The UK trial is historic", said Juliet Schor, the lead researcher on the Global 4-day week project, and an economist and sociologist at Boston College. However, Julian Jessop, an independent economist and fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said while he was in favour of the trial he was "sceptical" it would show good results across the entire economy. "You'd have to become 25% more productive per day," he said.
Small companies may care about their employees wellbeing a bit but this won't mean a thing to large corporations where the employee is little more than a wage statistic.