Public Health Disrupted27 Aug 2025

The Future of Work: Rethinking the 9 to 5

What if the key to better mental health, stronger families, and a more sustainable society was working less?

In this episode, Xand van Tulleken and Rochelle Burgess explore how reducing the working week could transform not just our work-life balance but public health more broadly.

They’re joined by:

Joe Ryle – Campaign Director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, advocating for a shorter working week with no loss of pay
Professor Anna Cox – Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at UCL and Head of the eWork Research Group, whose work explores how technology impacts productivity and wellbeing

In this episode:

How overworking is driving burnout, stress, and poor health outcomes
What flexible and remote working has taught us post-COVID
The role of digital technology in balancing work and life
Why a shorter week could be good for the environment and the economy
Whether AI might finally deliver on the long-promised work-life revolution

This episode also asks a deeper question: what would it take to truly shift our culture away from valuing busyness and burnout, and toward health, connection, and rest?

Resources and mentions:

Four Day Week Campaign
Bullsh*t Jobs by David Graeber
Black Mirror episodes on the future of work and technology

Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is produced by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative and UCL Health of the Public.

Read the full show notes and transcript.

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