A majority of UK workers (83 percent) believe the four-day week could be the norm by 2030, according to a new survey from collaboration firm Owl Labs.
The survey, which examined the experiences of over 1,000 UK employees in hybrid, in-office and remote work settings, found support for the initiative was highest among Gen Z (91 percent) and Millennials (87 percent).
“The rise of flexible working trends such as the four-day week and “working-to-rule” show that the traditional nine-to-five no longer makes the cut,” said Frank Weishaupt, CEO, Owl Labs.
“It’s crucial to recognise that more hours doesn’t always lead to greater productivity, nor does forcing strict in-office attendance – it’s about how effectively those hours are used, not where they are spent.
As organisations look to attract and retain talent in a competitive market, flexible models like the four-day week are already shifting from experiment to expectation. For many, the question is no longer if – but when.”
Over three-quarters (76 percent) of those surveyed said a four-day week could improve their work-life balance, with 74 percent saying there would be more time for personal development and 72 percent saying it could lead to greater job satisfaction.
While the overall sentiment was in favour of a shorter work week, a majority of those surveyed (60 percent) did raise concerns about longer hours during working days or potential impacts on customer service (raised by 38 percent of respondents).
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What’s the Uptake?
Although the number of companies formally adopting a four-day week has grown in recent years, the overall prevalence remains relatively low.
A March 2025 survey from jobs website StandOut CV found that only about 1.61 percent of job postings in the UK advertise a four-day workweek, showing that widespread adoption is still in its early stages.
A 2022 pilot of the policy involving 61 companies and 2,900 employees yielded positive results, with 92 percent making it a permanent fixture.
As of early 2025, approximately 200 companies in the UK had adopted a four-day workweek without reducing employee pay.
The firms collectively employ over 5,000 workers and span various sectors, including marketing, technology, charities, and consulting.
Technological Challenges Persist
Owl Labs’ data also highlighted a series of technological challenges faced by some workers, with a staggering 83 percent of employees saying they have experienced tech issues during hybrid meetings.
Unreliable connectivity (38 percent), audio issues (34 percent), and video lag (33 percent) were among the most disruptive problems reported.
The situation was further exacerbated in physical office spaces, with 32 percent of those surveyed saying outdated or missing technology was a “persistent issue”.
