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Increase in productivity levels 40-hour weeks, but in four days instead of
Discontented staff tend to distract their co- five. In this case, shifts might be extended to
workers. The general theory behind a shorter 10 hours.
week is that happier, more fulfilled employees Longer days could have a significant effect on
are therefore more focused on their job when your employees’ stress levels and therefore
actually in the workplace. their overall wellbeing and productivity. And
Perpetual Guardian, a New Zealand although the theory is that more time away
firm trialled a four day week. The results found from work benefits an employee’s work life
that 78% of employees could more effectively balance, by working extra hard during their
balance their work and home life. This was new ‘working week’, they may find that their
compared to 54% prior to the experiment. work-life balance actually takes a hit.
Recruitment and retention How does a four-day week affect holiday
In the age of the millennial, being able to offer entitlement?
a more flexible work pattern is definitely a One of the first things employees might ask is:
perk that persuades employees to stay at a how does this affect my holiday entitlement?
company. Well, as you probably know, an employer can
Research shows that 63% of businesses set their own rules on holiday, and can choose
found it easier to attract and keep quality staff to give more than the legal minimum should
with a four-day working week. This work-life they want to.
balance benefit is still a relatively rare offering If you switch to a four-day week and keep the
and can be a great way to get the best talent standard 37.5 hour working week (i.e. you
through the door - and keep them engaged, condense 5 days into 4), your employees’
too. holiday allowance won’t change. No sweat.
DISADVANTAGES OF A 4-DAY WORK But, if you actually reduce the amount of
WEEK hours your people are working each week,
you’ll need to re-calculate the holiday they’re
It doesn’t suit every business model entitled to. And here’s how you do it.
Unfortunately, a four-day week model doesn’t
suit every business. It’s an option that is only • Leave allowance is calculated simply by
viable for companies who can re-adapt their multiplying the number of days worked a
whole business to a new way of working. week by 5.6.
Adopting a different way of working is a big • A five-day week entitles 28 days’ annual
step, so you’ll need to consider whether or not leave a year.
a four-day week is right for your company.
• So, someone working a four-day week
Longer hours and work-related stress would be entitled to: 4 days x 5.6 weeks =
In reality, most employees on a four-day week 22.4 days.
will most likely be expected to work the same
6 March 2023
