Following the likes of New Zealand, Iceland and Spain, Scotland has announced plans to trial a four-day work week. The trial will reduce hours, but not pay.

The labour landscape is already looking very different to pre-pandemic life. A focus on well-being has seen both flexible and hybrid working patterns become more widely adopted styles of working. Could this shift towards flexible working provide the gateway to a shorter working week?

It’s been close to a century since the emergence of the five-day working week, and some people are questioning its effectiveness for the present day.

Can a four-day work week benefit employers?

Research shows that British employees currently work longer hours than most countries in Europe, yet our productivity often ranks lower than that of our European neighbours.

So although employees may be working long hours, they are not necessarily getting the job done. The go-to solution for this often involves employees working overtime which, if not carefully managed, can lead to burnout, absences and increased costs.

A four-day work week aims to give employees enough time to recover and focus on their well-being, so that they can return to work feeling fresh and subsequently more productive.

This approach does however raise the question of output.

Can five days of work fit into four?

Whether employees end up working fewer hours, or fewer but longer days, good time management is crucial to eliminate the risk of burnout completely.

Can a four-day working week work for your business?

A four-day work week won’t be suitable for every type of business, however increased flexibility can have substantial benefits for both a business and its workforce.

If a four-day week feels like a stretch, there are other approaches to flexible working you may be able to implement.

Read full Blog: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/exeter/blog/is-the-four-day-working-week-closer-than-we-think

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