Work life · 5 min read
How do I find a four-day week job?
How to find a job with a four-day week, what the UK trial found, the difference between compressed hours and true four-day weeks, and how to ask for one.
The short answer
Four-day week jobs are still a minority, but they're growing. In the UK's 2022 pilot, the largest at the time, 61 companies cut hours with no loss of pay, and 56 continued afterwards, with 18 making it permanent. To find one, search job boards and dedicated four-day week job sites, filter for terms like "four-day week" or "32 hours", and look at accredited employers. Check what's on offer: a true four-day week cuts hours with full pay, while compressed hours fit five days' work into four longer days. You can also ask your current employer, or request a four-day pattern through flexible working.
Key takeaways
- In the UK pilot, 56 of 61 companies continued with a four-day week.
- True four-day weeks cut hours at full pay; compressed hours don't.
- Search dedicated job boards and accredited employers.
- You can propose a pilot or make a flexible working request.
On this pageTypes of four-day week
Types of four-day week
| Type | Hours | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| True four-day week (100:80:100) | About 32 hours | Full pay, for full output |
| Compressed hours | Same hours in four days | Full pay |
| Part-time four days | 80% of hours | 80% of pay |
| Rotating or staggered | Team covers five days, each person works four | Usually full pay |
What the trials found
The UK pilot ran from June to December 2022 with about 2,900 workers at 61 companies. Most firms continued afterwards, and organisers reported lower burnout and stress among staff, with revenue broadly stable. Some managers and staff noted work became more intense and less social. Results come from the organisers and researchers, so treat them as encouraging rather than conclusive.
Where to find four-day week jobs
- Specialist four-day week job boards.
- Lists of accredited four-day week employers.
- Job boards filtered by "four-day week", "32 hours" or "compressed hours".
- Companies that took part in public pilots.
- Your network: ask who works a four-day week.
How to ask your employer
- Decide which type you want: compressed, part-time or true four-day.
- Show how your work will be covered and results maintained.
- Propose a trial with clear measures.
- In the UK, make a formal flexible working request.
Illustrative example: Tom, a marketing manager, proposes compressed hours over four days for a three-month trial, with weekly reporting on campaign results. His manager agrees, and the arrangement becomes permanent after targets are met.
Questions to ask before accepting
- Is the four-day week in the contract, or a policy that could change?
- Which type is it: reduced hours at full pay, compressed hours, or part-time?
- How is cover handled on the fifth day?
- Are there periods when everyone works five days?
- How does it affect holiday, overtime and pension contributions?
The answers tell you how secure the arrangement is and what the week really looks like. A four-day week written into your contract is much more secure than a pilot that leadership could end.
Questions people ask
- Which industries offer four-day weeks?
- Many are in marketing, tech, professional services, charities and small businesses. Some public bodies have run trials. Shift-based sectors, such as healthcare, find it harder but some use rotas.
- Does a four-day week mean less pay?
- Not in a true four-day week, which keeps pay the same with fewer hours. Some employers offer part-time at four days with 80% pay, and others offer compressed hours with full pay.
- Is a four-day week more stressful?
- Some people find work more intense, with fewer meetings and more focus. Most participants in trials reported lower stress and burnout overall.
- Can I ask for a four-day week in an interview?
- Yes, usually after showing interest in the role. Ask what flexible working the team uses. Some candidates negotiate a four-day week instead of a higher salary.
- Is a four-day week possible in the US?
- Some US employers offer it, particularly in tech, marketing and small businesses, and pilots have run there too. There's no federal right to request flexible working, so it depends on employer policy and negotiation.
- Does a four-day week affect career progression?
- It shouldn't in a well-run organisation, but in some workplaces visibility matters. Make sure your results are visible, communicate availability clearly, and check how four-day staff have progressed.
- Can I work a four-day week and earn the same?
- In a true four-day week or compressed hours, yes. Part-time four-day roles pay pro rata. Some people trade a slightly lower salary for a four-day week. Compare total pay and hours when weighing offers.
- Is the four-day week growing?
- Interest has grown since the pilots, and more employers advertise it, but it's still uncommon. Public sector trials and private sector schemes continue, and some countries are testing it at larger scale.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- The world's biggest trial of the four-day work week has come to an end. These are the results · World Economic Forum
- Flexible working · GOV.UK
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.