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The four-day working week – is it the future?
June 20, 2023
The pilot, conducted by research company Autonomy, recruited 61 UK-based organisations to trial a four-day working week with their employees from June-December 2022. The results reported were positive in terms of not only employee satisfaction but also business performance.
What might a four-day week look like?
There is no universal model for a four-day week. During the pilot, different organisations adopted different approaches to fit their own cultures and business requirements. These models included:
What were the results of the trial?
The results from the 6-month pilot showed that:
One of the organisations which took part in the pilot was Merthyr Valley Homes, whose HR Director, Ruth Llewellyn, gave us a first-hand account on how this change impacted the organisation at the Wales HR Network Conference held earlier this year. Ruth reported that the scheme led to better co-operation between teams, greater efficiency (e.g. reducing unnecessary meetings), innovative ideas from employees, as well as an increase in applicants for job vacancies.
Is this the future for employers in the UK?
At a time when employees increasingly value non-financial benefits, measures to promote physical and mental health such as the four-day week can be an important tool for recruitment and retaining employees.
When combined with the initial pilot results showing that businesses generally did not lose revenue as a result of the change (and in some cases gained revenue), this may be an attractive prospect for employers in many sectors which are facing recruitment and staff turnover issues. However, it will be crucial for any employer considering making the change to fully explore not just the pros and cons but also the best way of implementing it, including the employment law and HR implications for its workforce.
Do you want advice on implementing a four-day working week? Contact our employment team or call us on 02920 829 100 for a free initial chat to see how we can help you.
To speak to one of our experts today, please contact us on 02920 829 100 or by using our Contact Us form for a free initial chat to see how we can help.
