Thousands of UK employees to partake in four-day workweek trial
Image by Alyibel Colmenares from Pixabay
It is estimated that over 3,000 employees at 60 enterprises across the UK will test the concept of a four-day working week in what is widely being considered the most significant pilot scheme to occur anywhere in the world.
Workers from a diverse range of charities and companies will partake in this scheme from June to December 2022. A popular Norfolk-based fish and chip shop, famous North London-based independent brewery Pressure Drop, the Royal Society of Biology, and a medical devices enterprise based in Manchester are expected to be part of this trial.
The Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Biology, Mark Downs, opined that the decision to test the four-day workweek was, in some measure, a response to an increasingly competitive labour market. “It’s about doing more to be a great and innovative employer to attract and retain employees,” he said. “These possibilities make a significant difference, which is excellent for everyone.”
On the other hand, Joe O’Connor, Chief Executive of 4 Day Week Global, thinks that the pandemic is the major driving force behind the trial. “Increasingly, executives and managers are accepting a new work model that emphasises output quality, not quantity of hours,” he revealed. “Employees have emerged from the pandemic with new expectations about what makes up a healthy work-life balance.” Therefore, many individuals are putting pressure on businesses to switch to a shorter working week to improve working conditions while maintaining pay and aiming for better productivity. It is worth mentioning that the four day work week isn’t without its challenges. Working four days a week doesn’t mean having fewer tasks to accomplish but rather having one less day to complete your job.
As such, experts recommend that it is crucial to automate as many repetitive tasks as possible to save a lot of time. For instance, some email programs suggest “canned responses” that you can select from when you receive particular emails, and your response is always the same and straightforward. This way, you won’t have to retype your response anytime you receive these emails, saving you time.
Many business experts also add that having multiple software solutions causes your staff to take longer to complete tasks. This phenomenon can become particularly problematic when you must transfer information from one program to another, which can take a lot of time and affect the four-day workweek’s viability. Luckily, a business management system will come in handy to integrate all your core processes in one place, making employees highly productive and likely to complete work on time and enjoy their four-day workweek.
The brains behind this pilot scheme are hopeful that it will prove the much-touted productivity benefits of a shorter workweek. The not-for-profit community, 4 Day Week Global, is responsible for this movement. They are working in partnership with the Autonomy thinktank, researchers from Oxford University, Cambridge University, and Boston College, and the 4 Day Week UK Campaign. Interested workers will have full access to the tools, resources, and expertise needed for a smooth and successful trial.
