Welcome to 4 Day Week Global, the world’s leading organisation with a goal to change the future of work through working smarter, not longer. 

Founded in 2019 by Andrew Barnes and Charlotte Lockhart, 4 Day Week Global seeks to reshape the way we think about work, by moving the conversation away from hours, and onto productivity and output.

Since then, we have organised pilot programs across the world, in nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, with many more on the way. 

Through our pilot programs, we have guided businesses worldwide in the planning, trialling, and implementation of the 4 day week initiative, using our 100:80:100™ principle. 

The 4 Day Week Global journey

  • DECEMBER 2017

    The idea sparks

    Could a 4 day work week actually work?

  • FEBRUARY 2018

    Trial is announced

    Perpetual Guardian test the idea

  • NOVEMBER 2018

    Perpetual Guardian

    Permanently implemented 4 Day Week

  • JULY 2019

    USA 4 Day Week launch

    Charlotte Lockhart appointed to the advisory board

  • AUGUST 2019

    4 Day Week goes global

    Foundation set up to fund research into best practices

  • FEBRUARY 2022

    4 Day Week Ireland and US Trial

    Pilot Program begins across multiple countries

  • JUNE 2022

    4 Day Week UK Trial

    Pilot Program begins for 3000+ employees

  • OCTOBER 2023

    Launch of the Foundation Course

    Helping create a million years of new free time

How does it work?

Employees receive 100% pay for 80% time worked with 100% productivity targets achieved. 

The 100-80-100™ principle was developed by our leaders, Charlotte Lockhart and Andrew Barnes after they successfully piloted a 4-day week in their business, Perpetual Guardian, in 2018. It has become the international standard to help businesses formulate a fair and flexible pathway to reducing work time for their people, no matter how many hours they work currently. 

It was developed in response to the need to accommodate a meaningful reduction in work for staff who work non-standard hours, either part-time or regular hours of overtime.

We believe that reduced-hour working is the future of work, and that together, work/life balance can become the norm for everyone, allowing employees to live fulfilling, healthy lives, while businesses can flourish and create strong relationships with their people. 

Want to learn more about what we do? Check out the following pages to see our work and learn how you can get involved!