The trial of a four-day week involving 70 companies and 3,300 employees has recently begun. The trial will run for a six month period and is thought to be the biggest pilot of its kind.

The trial is led by 4 Day Week Global, a group campaigning for a shorter working week with no loss of pay and will be monitored by academics from Oxford and Cambridge Universities, alongside the think tank Autonomy and Boston College in the US.

Employers taking part include a chip shop in Norfolk, a software company in Sheffield and a charity bank from Kent and all have pledged that workers will receive 100% of their pay for 80% of their time, in return for workers committing to 100% productivity.

Using a cross section of industry researchers will be looking at the impact on productivity and wellbeing, alongside the impact on the environment and gender equality.