Fellow Spotlight: Charlotte Rae

Work Less, Achieve More? Charlotte Rae is Proving It’s Possible 

Round 7 fellow Charlotte Rae is proving that working less might actually help us achieve more. We spoke to her about her work. 

“My team and I are studying how the amount of time we spend at work interacts with health, wellbeing, and work performance,” she explains. By analysing UK Biobank data and partnering with employers trialling a four-day working week, they’re uncovering insights that could reshape how we all work. 

For a neuroscientist who spent years doing MRI brain scanning, it was “somewhat of a pivot to move towards occupational psychology.” The catalyst? “I saw the news coming out from the first 4-day-week trials, which were finding better wellbeing, but also better staff performance – and it made me think, ‘it’s the brain that’s behind that’.” 

That curiosity led her to investigate “the psychological, physiological, and neural mechanisms behind those media headlines” – insights that are valuable for policymakers and employment stakeholders. 

“Collaboration has been the biggest enabler,” she says. Working closely with employers, “we help support them on their trial journey, sharing what we’ve learned from studying other employers, while we benefit hugely from being able to study their staff.” Meanwhile, their team collaborates closely, “postdocs are leading in their specialist areas of expertise but also teaching and learning from each other.” 

The next year promises exciting milestones: finishing data collection on her 4-day-week trial, including the control group, and completing analysis on the UK Biobank data. The findings are also being shared at conferences and policymaker events, including a recent special interest session at the Brighton FLF Conference on ‘getting more done in less time.’ 

What has stood out from being on the programme? “It’s so valuable to connect with other FLFs and chatting through difficulties and solutions together, as we truly know the challenges an FLF can face.” Their advice? “Reach out to other Fellows at your institution – or those you meet at FLF events – for informal bonding and support.” 

And if you weren’t doing the work you’re doing? “I’d be a gardener” – perhaps fitting for someone who understands the importance of work-life-balance! 

Want to get in touch? Connect via LinkedIn or visit Charlotte’s profile – and update your own while you’re there.