As an employee, the idea of working four days and being paid for five sounds great! Having been an employer, that idea sends shivers down my spine. Even though research suggests that people can only concentrate for 4-5 hours in one sitting, and in the UK a survey of employees indicated that the average employee works for three hours in an eight hour day (click here to read more). I wonder if that would really work?
Well, one New Zealand company has recently put this idea to the test. The firm called Perpetual Guardian recently concluded a two month trial whereby employees could take either Wednesday or Friday off, yet still be paid for a full five-day work week. What happened? Some things went up, and some things went down. According to a recent article in Fast Company (read it here) here are some of the results:
- Job performance improved slightly
- Productivity did not fall
- Workers’ sense of work-life balance went from 54% to 78%
- Stress went down
- Employees’ sense of satisfaction with their own lives in general went up
- Employees found their work to be more stimulating, had more confidence in the leadership team, and felt more empowered in their roles
- Employees sense of engagement with their work went up
- Employees commitment to their employer rose from 68% to 88%
How did the company ensure that productivity did not fall? They discussed the idea with the employees, who came up with a range of ways to ensure there was no drop, and included:
- Spending less time in meetings
- Spending less time on social media
- Experimenting with signals on their desks that they shouldn’t be interrupted.
Getting the leadership team and employees was crucial, as was the focus away from hours and onto productivity.
What a challenge – do you think your organisation could implement the four day week? Certainly something to think about. And the Avondale Business School can help you with your business challenges. Simply email us to discuss how we can help [email protected]