Technology is revolutionising the way we all work. Studies from the Office of National Statistics indicate that by 2020, half of us could be working at home for at least some of the week. Flexible working is not unusual any more, it’s the norm. One of the most common methods of flexible working is compressed hours. This means workers do their standard 35 hours over four days, not five. Some companies however are taking this concept even further. How does working a 4 day week sound? Never having to go into the office again on a Friday sounds attractive, doesn’t it? A three day weekend would be amazing. But are there real benefits to this sort of working pattern?
Would a 4 day week work in my industry?
Not every industry can go for this model of allowing everyone to take Friday off. If your customers expect you to be there during standard office hours, they might not react kindly to having phones unanswered on a Friday. It obviously wouldn’t work in retail or catering, which are industries open 7 days a week anyway. But for a wide range of office-based industries, the adjustment to being available only four days out of five is relatively straightforward. It’s a model which is being widely used in Scandinavia and New Zealand, and is proving popular.
Disadvantages for Employees
You’d expect that employees would be celebrating to hear that they don’t have to go into the office any more on a Friday. However, there are implications in cutting the number of working days. Businesses handle the change in one of two ways. Some will expect employees to work 8 hours and 45 minutes on the four days they are in the office instead of the standard 7. The effect is that overall work hours remain unchanged. Longer working hours don’t suit everyone. The other option is keeping the working day the same length, but cutting the salary by 20% to recognise that nobody is working on Friday. Again, losing wages isn’t going to be a popular move. Any company thinking about moving to a shorter working week will have to consult employees and unions rather than just management making the decision.
Moving to a shorter working week doesn’t change employers’ legal obligations. They will still have to conform to the same health and safety standards as a 5 day a week employer. They still have to pay sick pay, maternity leave and calculate holiday entitlement. If the job requires it, employees still need to apply for a DBS check or a credit check.
Advantages for Employees of a 4 Day Week
Assuming employees are happy with either a longer working day or a cut in pay, there are lots of advantages to a shorter working week. Only having to go into the office for four days cuts commuting costs, whether they are travelling by car or public transport. Having a three-day weekend gives the employee more opportunities for “me” time, and this has been proven to be beneficial to mental health. A longer weekend could see a reduction in stress related absence. Employees have longer to recharge their batteries and achieve a better work/life balance. Having a day free when most people are at work could also allow the employee to do some volunteering. Or perhaps to attend a college course to enhance their skills.
And It’s Good for Employers Too
There are also significant benefits for employers in moving to a short working week. For a start, there are significant cost savings. You’re only having to heat, light and clean your office building for a 4 day week rather than 5. If you opt for the model of keeping the office open 5 days but allowing staff to choose which day they have off, you could potentially reduce the size of the premises you rent.
Perhaps the main bonus for employers is increased productivity. Working compressed hours, or just having a long weekend, is a relatively new concept so research is still ongoing. However, early studies from New Zealand indicate that employees who are only in work four days a week are more focused and fulfilled than people working a regular 9-5. A happy workforce also means greater staff retention, and reduced recruitment costs. Offering a shorter working week as standard could also be a great selling point when you’re trying to attract new staff into your operation.