Some 70 British companies began a trial of a four-day work week with equal pay on Monday, the world’s largest according to organizers, after the pandemic led to a re-adaptation of the way work was done.

Companies, from a wide range of sectors – including banking and hospitality – and with a workforce of more than 30,000 people, according to British media, are starting this six-month test to determine whether a four-day-a-week workplace can be adopted without loss of productivity.

Employers will continue to pay workers 100% of their wages, according to this test, which university researchers take to measure its impact on employee productivity and well-being.

The test was launched by the “Global 4 Days Week” group, which campaigns to reduce the working day, together with the think tank Autonomy, the British universities of Cambridge and Oxford and Boston College.

These researchers will look at how employees respond to various factors, such as additional stress, job satisfaction, health, sleep, travel, and energy levels.

This initiative will support participating companies with success modeling workshops, advice and training, and regular performance reviews.

Charity Bank CEO Ed Siegel, whose entity participated in the test, said Monday that the pandemic is changing things for the sake of workforce flexibility.

“The 20th century concept of a five-day work week is no longer appropriate for 21st century business. We strongly believe that a four-day week with no change in pay or benefits will create a happier workforce and have a positive impact on productivity,” he added. Siegel.

Several companies have resisted this flexibility, including Tesla’s electric motor sector, whose CEO, Elon Musk, recently told staff they must return to the office to work a minimum of 40 hours a week.

With information from EFE