It’s impossible to ignore the buzz around artificial intelligence over the past year, since ChatGPT came into our working lives, but you’ve also probably seen the doom-and-gloom outlook that AI is coming for your job. As it turns out though, there’s a lot AI can do to help, rather than hinder, our daily work. And one step further, it can transform our work-life balance by unlocking the four-day work week.

Following the success of the UK's pilot of the four-day work week last year, in which 92% of participating firms said they would keep the 4-day work week and 71% of staff reported less burnout, the case for flexible working has never been stronger. 

A new study by thinktank Autonomy found that artificial intelligence technology can enable 8.8 million UK workers to reduce their working hours from 40 to 32 by 2033. And here’s the kicker: AI can help us work less, without impacting pay or productivity. 

Women say that flexible work and the ability to have control over their work are two of the top three work benefits, according to McKinsey's most recent Women in the Workplace report, so how exactly can AI make the four-day week a reality?

The four-day work week isn’t an elusive dream – it’s already here

Following an 18-month pilot, London firm Awin announced the permanent implementation of a flexible week for their employees this year. Their ‘Flexi-Week’ allows all staff to take any day off per week they choose – and at their full salary.

“The results of the global pilot were positive,” said Cinzia Campanini, Awin’s Vice President People & Culture.

“Our employee engagement score went up by 1.1 (on a 1 to 10 scale), regrettable turnover decreased by 1.2%, and sick days by 2.1%. Business-centred KPIs and productivity measures improved as well. We also won Best Employer Awards and noticed more qualified candidates were applying for jobs with us, citing the Flexi-Week as one of the aspects that attracted them,” she said.

Beyond business metrics, the four-day week significantly boosted the wellbeing of Awin’s employees. “An internal survey showed 94% of respondents said their work-life balance has improved, 86% said their productivity has increased, and 70% felt less stressed at work,” Cinzia said.

Artificial intelligence can accelerate the four-day work week into the mainstream

New research suggests that AI technologies, such as large language models and generative AI, can drive productivity gains across sectors and unlock the four-day work week for 28% of the national workforce and 33% of London’s labour force in the next decade. “The City of London is the only local authority in the UK where over 50% of the workforce could have an AI-led four-day week by 2033,” the study states.

There’s a clear opportunity for policymakers, trade unions, employers and workers to take advantage of AI powering productivity in our jobs in order to reduce the time we spend at work. And women in particular stand to benefit. 

Flexible work benefits women and marginalised groups

Before the pandemic, the traditional 9-5 office schedule was the norm in corporate environments. It’s only in the past few years that anything outside this working pattern was even considered feasible in the long term. However, with the return to office versus work from home debate heating up again, the very idea of flexible work is under scrutiny.

“The pandemic has changed not only the way we work, but also the way we think about work,” said Dr Adrienne Milner, a leading DEI culture and policy expert also known as ‘the DEI Doc.’ 

“Flexible working effectively prevents burnout and fatigue through improved work-life balance. Employees are no longer settling for suboptimal working conditions where flexible work is not only an organisational perk, but a competitive necessity,” she said.

What’s more, underrepresented groups and women especially have a lot to gain from a flexible approach to their working patterns. “Women still take on a disproportionate amount of household and caring responsibilities, including the mental load of household management,” explained Dr Adrienne. 

“Flexible work increases psychological safety and decreases exposure to microaggressions that women and marginalised groups experience to, from and at work. [There are also] benefits for other groups, including those on the autism spectrum who have noise sensitivities or groups who are disproportionately exposed to harassment on public transit, such as transgender individuals,” she said.

How the four-day work week empowers women

Rosalyn Berrisford, Awin’s Regional Managing Director UK and BNL, speaks about her personal experience with a four-day work week since January 2021.

“I can personally attest to the fantastic impact it has had on my life, discovering firsthand the benefit of having an extra day away from work and childcare to have to myself,” she said. 

“I’ve been able to focus on my own hobbies and interests, exercise, complete life admin and develop myself. Completing my MBA would not have been possible without it. Many women colleagues use it to spend an extra day with their children and save on another day in nursery. Others focus on themselves, their mental health and wellbeing, attend regular classes or spend more time with family that wouldn’t otherwise be possible,” Rosalyn explained.

In addition to the benefits the four-day working week brings to her life outside of work, Rosalyn also shared how it’s changed her relationship with her employer, for the better. “My job satisfaction has improved through increased levels of trust within the relationship, which has led to more autonomy,” she said.

How employers can better enable flexibility for working women

As more studies show the link between a four-day work week and improved business outcomes such as employee productivity, the truth is that employers who don’t take advantage might miss out. And in the age of AI, the time could be now.

“I would encourage senior leaders to seriously consider flexible working models because this has become a significant and largely irreversible trend,” said Cinzia. 

“Refusing to consider flexible working models might significantly reduce an organisation’s attractiveness in the talent pool and we all know that people make the success of a company,” she said.

And with disruptive innovation moving us more quickly along the path towards flexible work, we may see the universal 4-day work week even sooner than you think.