What's not to like about a four day week
Perhaps not surprisingly employees have reacted favourably to trials of 4-day weeks.
The Heath Government almost 50 years ago introduced a 3 day week with the miners’ strike. Productivity was maintained at 80% of pre-strike levels despite the reduction by 40% in the working week. Theoretically a 20% reduction in the working week could lead to increased productivity.?
This rather assumes hours can be reduced without consequence but this might present real difficulties in sectors with 24/7 working such as power generation, transport and the NHS. Nurses already have 4 day working with 4 days/nights on and 4 days off but that is only achieved by having four 12 hour shifts.
Recruitment difficulties have led the hospitality sector to limit opening hours so 5-day opening is now common BUT that is really just a manifestation of managing shift patterns so is generally 5 days on and 2 days off.
Unless firms are going to close for a 3-day weekend, which would be possible for some, a four-day working week will potentially cause friction in the workplace. Few staff will want a day off mid-week unless it makes their child-care more manageable. There will be a scramble to bag Fridays or Mondays.
Assuming employers want to aim for a four day week, matters that might be borne in mind are:-
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·????????Job shares so staff have alternate Fridays or Mondays.
·????????Flexible working combined with Hybrid work patterns
·????????Defining core days for physical presence at work
·????????Introducing and defining output measures to ensure productivity does not suffer.
Using the example of the 1974 Miners Strike, the changes were necessary because of power rationing. Knowing that time at work was precious, actually discouraged staff from time wasting around the water cooler.?
What might seem beneficial over a short trial period might become irksome as the psychological benefits from working and the social intercourse that occur shrink with the pressure to get 5 days work done in 4.?
Considering a four day week should be a time limited trial introduced by consultation with staff or unions if recognised, with everyone being signed up to the process by which its success is measured.
A word of caution is that it is likely to require significant review of holiday entitlement practices since you will want to base these on a four day week and most public holidays occur on Mondays or Fridays.?