Will your Company be considering a 4 day working week?

The UK has one of the longest working weeks in the world and this 4-day working week trial across varying business sectors without loss of pay or the need to work condensed hours has shown positive results.   The results of the pilot which took place in the UK has shown that the majority of Companies and employees which took part considered this an overwhelming success.   Companies saw a reduction in burnout, anxiety, fatigue and sickness absence.  Employees reported to have better mental and physical health, work-life balance, financial satisfaction, improvements in their relationships and generally how their time was managed.  From those that took part in the pilot, as well as the employee wellbeing and satisfaction benefits, employers saw their revenue broadly unaffected and the average rise was 1.4% but the 6-month trial is not long enough to measure the full impact.

For those considering a 4-day week pattern it should be recognised that it will not be a ‘one size fits all’ approach or that it means a ‘Friday off’ model.  Obtaining employee buy-in will be key.   Any change to contractual working patterns are recommended to be implemented via a trial period and only after careful consideration and planning. Thought would need to be given to how such a week would impact on those already working part-time, holiday pay entitlement calculations, any shift pattern changes, ensuring employees are not overworked on their working days and being able demonstrate fairness throughout their workforce.

What this pilot as shown is the potential for Companies to take an innovative approach towards attracting and retaining talent.

If you are considering a restructure and need assistance please do not hesitate to contact us on info@sos-hr.co.uk or call 01473 276170.