From today, 1st August 2022, Surgical Innovations, one of the leading UK manufacturers of medical devices based in Leeds, have signed up to take part in the official four-day week UK pilot programme.

Staff remuneration packages will remain unchanged, and the pilot will see the majority of their workforce adopt the programme, which will be carefully managed to ensure five-day continuity of service and support, to its partners and customers.

From June to December 2022, more than 70 companies and organisations are trialling a four-day working week.

Coordinated by 4 Day Week Global, in partnership with Autonomy, the 4 Day Week Campaign, and researchers at Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College, the pilot is the biggest ever trial of its kind globally. With more than 3,300 UK workers participating, the pilot will see representation from more than thirty sectors.

The UK programme is also running alongside similar pilots in Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel.

Alex Hogg, Chief Operating Officer said: “At Surgical Innovations, the Health and Wellbeing of our employees is paramount, and we strongly believe that a healthy work life balance is a great way to achieve this.

We are proud to have partnered with the official 4 Day Week Global Pilot and the 4 Day Week UK Campaign, who will guide us on this journey over the next six months. The trial will involve condensing weekly working hours, spread over four days, at no loss of pay to staff. This is the next step on our journey to making Surgical Innovations an outstanding place to work.”

There is a wide array of benefits from moving to a four-day working week, not just for the employees but for the business as well.

Results from the world’s largest ever trial in Iceland, between 2015 to 2019, showed that productivity remained the same or improved in most workplaces.

The shorter working week not only improves work life balance, but can reduce costs, reduce carbon footprint, and improves recruitment and staff retention – something with Surgical Innovations holds at its core.

For more information on the on the official trial, or how Surgical Innovations are adopting the four-day working week, please visit www.4dayweek.co.uk/pilot-programme or contact them on si@surginno.co.uk.