Four-day work week (to be) trialled in UK in world's biggest pilot

[joglynne]

The trial starts to-day. I will be interested to see if productivity changes over the 6 month trial.

Organisers say it is the biggest four-day week pilot to take place anywhere in the world.

Firms taking part will give 100 per cent of workers' pay for 80 per cent of the time, in exchange for a commitment to maintain at least 100 per cent productivity.

The trial is being organised by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with think tank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week UK Campaign, and researchers at Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College.

Companies taking part provide products and services ranging from education to workplace consultancy.

They include banking, care, financial services, IT software training and online retail.

Researchers will work with each participating organisation to measure the impact on productivity and the wellbeing of its workers, as well as the impact on the environment and gender equality.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/four-day-work-week-trial-uk/

[nomadking]

Some types of jobs might work, but if they have an increase in workload, eg customers then whereas before they could've coped because of the slack, they will have to employ more people which will increase costs.
Link

However, Julian Jessop, an independent economist and fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said while he was in favour of the trial he was "sceptical" it would show good results across the entire economy. "You'd have to become 25% more productive per day," he said.


"There are some services where a four-day working week is not a realistic option. Doctors are already struggling to provide enough GP appointments - how can they see 25% more patients in a day? And it's difficult to see how a bar person can pull 25% more pints in a day too."

[BenMcr]

That's a bit of a false argument from the IEA I think. Where was anyone suggesting that even where businesses were offering staff a four day working week they would also only do a four day business week?

[TheDaddy]

I only do four days a week now, would prefer to go three or even two but the boss won't wear it annoyingly

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

That's a bit of a false argument from the IEA I think. Where was anyone suggesting that even where businesses were offering staff a four day working week they would also only do a four day business week?

Are you suggesting that the Unions would let any differences between businesses continue and for it not to be a general thing?

It really is a load of contrived nonsense. There will be jobs and businesses that have slack capacity. When they find out that they can do the same amount of work in 80% of the time, it will falsely be put down benefits leading to increased productivity.
There are businesses where productivity is less definable on output.

Companies ranging from office-based software developers and recruitment firms to charities and a local fish and chip shop are taking part.

Is the fish and chip shop simply going to be closed when they don't have many customers anyway? Misleading result, yet again.

[joglynne]

I realise that my views may be somewhat out dated but I remember a period in the 1970's when Time Management and its subsequent increased productivity was something that was pushed as the way to go forward. At first it was promoted as something that could be advantageous to all and was it used to increase hourly productivity. It soon changed and targets were increased to the point of hitting the donkey with a large stick.

I remember having a time limit set for certain tasks, it was so unrealistic that short cuts were often taken, errors increased due to the pressure and of course it was the employees fault. I can't help feeing that this trial may eventually cause more stress than is expected.

I do wonder if the 100% wage, for 80% attendance, will eventually be replaced by the employers insisting that their employees couldn't have been working properly prior to the trial and reducing the wages as a result.

I know that I couldn't have done all the work I did if I cut the hours I worked in a week and I am sure that many people now are in the same position.

Firms taking part will give 100 per cent of workers' pay for 80 per cent of the time, in exchange for a commitment to maintain at least 100 per cent productivity.

What exactly is "100 per cent productivity" ? How do they intend to measure it ?

I only do 4 days a week anyway (and alas, only get paid 80%).

It was ‘marking time’ that was the irritating part of my job. It was never properly defined as far as I could judge. Especially as an art teacher where the art work was too much size wise to actually transport home. I spent a lot of time in an empty school addressing that part of the job. So much easier to take a pile of exercise books home. I left before computers became a major part of teaching and marking.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Maggy

It was ‘marking time’ that was the irritating part of my job. It was never properly defined as far as I could judge. Especially as an art teacher where the art work was too much size wise to actually transport home. I spent a lot of time in an empty school addressing that part of the job. So much easier to take a pile of exercise books home. I left before computers became a major part of teaching and marking.

There is just as much marking now with computers, especially with the various virtual learning platforms.
And many subjects are still using exercise books. I see so many teachers staying til late to mark books in the school I work at.
Many spending time at weekends too.




I think a 4 day week would be briliant for everyone, especially from a mental health perspective too. It would really help de-stress everyone.
We live in this world now where everything has to be done at once, immeditately. We need to slow down.

[broadbandking]

This will only work if you work a normal 5 day week, I work 1 week of 5 12 shifts and 1 week of 2 12 shifts

[tweetiepooh]

5 days at 7.5 hours a day (lunch hour not paid) is 37.5 (not atypical 0900-1730).


4 days is over 9.2 hours in a day to get same weekly hours. close to 0900-1815

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

5 days at 7.5 hours a day (lunch hour not paid) is 37.5 (not atypical 0900-1730).


4 days is over 9.2 hours in a day to get same weekly hours. close to 0900-1815

I worked for Ntl/virgin for 17 years we had a thing called 8am

Teaching isn't a 9-5 job IF you add in after school activities and marking plus before school and during lunch working.

Originally Posted by papa smurf

I worked for Ntl/virgin for 17 years we had a thing called 8am

I start at 4pm

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Paul

I start at 4pm

I was on my way home at 4