40 firms will be offering their workers a new four-day working week for the same pay they're currently on.
Camera chain Canon will soon be allowing employees to work fewer days for the same pay with Morrisons following too.
The Mirror reports that the camera giant will trial a three day weekend as part of a six-month trial run by academics at the universities of Cambridge and Oxford.
The pilot will see staff work up to 35 hours each week, but split over four days rather than five.
The moves come as discussion builds around the potential benefits of giving workers an extra day off.
Canon Medical Research, which develops AI software, will run the trial among its 140 employees.
Think tank Autonomy argues benefits of a four day week include increased productivity and improved staff retention.
Job site Adecco says it can also relieve pressure on working parents but highlighted the fact that it is not possible in all industries and could lead to more workplace stress as staff cram more work into fewer days.
Other large companies looking at the four-day week include Unilever, the maker of consumer goods ranging from Marmite to Dove soap.
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UK supermarket chain Morrisons has also said it would introduce the measure for employees at its Bradford headquarters, according to The Guardian.
Will Stronge, at think tank Autonomy, said: “This study shows that the world's largest-ever trial of a shorter working week in the public sector was by all measures an overwhelming success.
“It shows that the public sector is ripe for being a pioneer of shorter working weeks – and lessons can be learned for other governments.”
List of 40 companies currently offering a four-day week
- 3D Issue – a digital publishing platform
- Advice Direct Scotland – an advice hub
- Autonomy – an independent thinktank
- Big Potato Games – a board game company
- Blink – a specialist digital marketing agency
- CMG Technologies – 3D metal moulding
- Causeway Irish Housing Association – a not-for-profit organisation provind temporary accommodation for young single homeless people
- Charlton Morris – a specialist search firm
- Common Knowledge – a not-for-profit building digital tools for grassroots organisers
- Contour Couture – an aesthetics company
- Crystallised – a marketing agency
- Datalase – laser equipment supplier
- Earth Science Partnership – a consultancy of engineers, geologists and applied environmental scientists
- Elektra Lighting – lighting consultants
- Entrepreneurs Circle – a business development service
- Evolved – search marketing specialists
- Four Day Week Ltd – a jobs site for four day week and flexible roles
- Geeks For Social Change – software developers, activists and researchers with a social agenda
- Gracefruit – a cosmetics company
- Highfield Professional Solutions – an employment agency
- Legacy Events – an events management company
- MRL – a specialist recruitment company for high technology and financial markets
- PTHR – a design, development and change consultancy
- Punch Creative – a digital marketing agency
- Reboot – a digital marketing firm
- Resilience Brokers – working to improve climate resilience
- Reward Agency – a marketing agency
- STOP AIDS – a HIV and AIDS charity
- Sinister Fish Games – a board game company
- Social Enterprise Direct – a technological solutions company
- Softer Success – working with employees to prevent burnout
- T-Cup Studios – helping employee wellbeing
- Target Publishing – an independent publisher
- Technovent – a supplier of medical products for the body prosthesis sector
- The Circle – hub for charities, social enterprises, community groups and businesses
- The UPAC Group – a packaging supplier
- Venture Stream – a digital marketing agency
- YWCA Scotland – a movement of women leading change
- flocc – a digital marketing agency
- streamGO – an events platform
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