Following the success of the last four-day working week trial, a second scheme is set to go ahead in November, with employers invited to sign up for it. The majority of the companies that participated in the previous four-day working week found it to be successful, with 89% still adopting it a year later. It is natural for employers to feel apprehensive about adopting the four-day working week, and in this blog, we will look at the pros and cons of this new way of working.
Pros
Improve Recruitment and Retention
Studies have shown that employees value a more flexible approach to work, especially Gen Z. Offering a four-day working week will naturally put you ahead of competitors that are not providing such flexibility. Therefore, it will help with both recruitment and retention.
Reduce Sickness
An extra day off can improve employee’s health and well-being, as they get more time to spend with their friends, doing things they enjoy. It also allows them to recover from the working week, and enjoy an extra lie-in. Employees may also reconsider calling in sick if they know they have additional time off.
“With a new Labour government, change is in the air and we hope to see employers embracing this change by signing up for our pilot,” said Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Campaign.
Increase Productivity
The notion of a four-day working week may instantly set off alarm bells. The natural reaction is to think of the downturn in productivity. However, studies have shown that a shorter working week can increase productivity. Employees are more motivated, and therefore, get more work done on the days they are in the workplace.
Cons
One size doesn’t fit all
It may not be feasible to adopt a four-day working week, depending on your business. For example, SMEs may not have enough staff to accommodate it. Larger organisations can usually move staff around to allow them to continue to operate five days a week.
Increase Business Costs
With the four-day working week, the employees will still be paid their regular salary but will work less hours. Therefore, it can seem more costly to a business. One solution to this would be to close the office one day a week, so you don’t have the same operational costs.
Managing Stress
Even though the hours will be reduced, the workload will remain the same. Therefore, it is important to manage your employees carefully to ensure they don’t face burnout.
If you are an employer interested in the four-day working week scheme in Autumn, you can get more information here.
At Morgan Spencer, we can help you secure talent in many sectors. You can contact us today to enquire about our recruitment support services.