4 Day Working Week Anyone?

We’ve learned through Covid that hybrid working can really work albeit there are pro’s and con’s.

Questions like how any home working days are too many and how do we get people into the office at the same time became questions we all grappled with.

Hybrid working has certainly become the norm now for many businesses.

But what’s next?

A 4-day working week?

Possibly! Many businesses are taking it even further and have joined in the ‘large-scale trial’ of the 4-day week which 4 Day Week Global are coordinating alongside the UK think tank ‘Autonomy’ and university researchers from Cambridge, Oxford and Boston.

Over 70 UK businesses are joining the 6-month trial which see their employees receiving 100% of their pay for working a reduced 4-day week.

Obviously, employees will benefit hugely from this idea but what about employers?

Well it’s said that employers who adopt this working pattern, will win in many ways too through:

• Increased productivity
• Cost Savings
• Improved ability to attract and retain the best talent
• Reduced levels of employee stress
• Reduced carbon emissions with fewer people commuting to work
• A happier and more engaged workforce

So many people have revaluating their priorities over the past two years and perhaps the 4-day week will help those looking to better balance their lives between work and play.

It’s definitely an interesting idea and I wait with bated breath for the findings of the trial as to the impact of the 4-day week on productivity and the wellbeing of staff which are key parts of the research.

Let’s imagine for a moment that the findings are positive for all parties. What next?

Will the 4-day week catch on?

Given what’s happened with hybrid working and the step change this has brought, it’s not insurmountable that some forward-thinking companies will take their working practices a step further to win the war for talent.

More interesting times ahead for the future world of work!