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Dr Charlotte Rae conducts an MRI brain scan for the Sussex 4 Day Week trial

A lecturer at the University of Sussex is urging businesses in Brighton and the surrounding areas to sign up for a four-day working week trial after early research has shown significant staff benefits.

The Sussex 4 Day Week project, a major new study launched this year and run by Dr Charlotte Rae, lecturer in Psychology at the University of Sussex, is calling on local firms to sign up and trial a four-day work week.

Dr Rae and the Sussex 4 Day Week research team will presenting their research findings at The science behind the 4 day week, on Wednesday 26 October.

The free event, which is in partnership with the Brighton Chamber of Commerce and part of the national, two-week Festival of Social Science, is aiming to inspire more businesses to sign up for the trial, which can be joined at any time.

The trial will last for three months, with employees receiving 100% of their wage for working 80% of their normal work hours.

While the Sussex 4 Day Week project is one of a number of national trials being conducted into the impact of a shorter work week, it is the only one that measures the biological benefits of reduced working hours alongside business performance.

Currently being trialled by six Brighton businesses, employees have been undertaking a series of assessments, ranging from in-depth questionnaires to in-person biological tests such as MRI scans and blood tests, to track the psychological and physical impact of working four instead of five days a week.

According to researchers, results so far have shown significant health benefits, including sleep and mental health. Business performance metrics have further shown productivity was either maintained or improved, with five out of the six companies conducting the trial now intending to make the four-day work week permanent.

Dr Charlotte Rae, Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Sussex, said:

“It’s been widely argued for a while now that the five-day, 9-5 working week is outdated and no longer fit-for-purpose for various reasons, including significant health, cost and environmental ones. However, it is only through trials like ours that we are finally getting the scientific data to properly support this.

“Our research is showing that a four-day working week can provide huge benefits not only for staff wellbeing, but also overall workplace performance.

“We hope as many local employers as possible will join us at The Science behind the 4 day week event, and that after hearing our results and how a four-day week works in practice from panel members, will be inspired to also take part in our trial. By doing so, they will not only be supporting important research, but hopefully will also experience valuable benefits for their business and workforce.”

The Science behind the four day week event will feature a presentation of the scientific data obtained by the team so far, as well as a panel discussion with the business employers and employees currently partaking in the trial. A final Q&A session will further provide the opportunity for other local business owners to ask additional questions.

For more details about the Sussex 4 Day Week project, or to find out how to sign up, please visit their website at www.sussex4dayweek.co.uk. To book your free ticket for The Science behind the four day week event, visit www.brightonchamber.co.uk/event/the-science-behind-the-four-day-week.

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