London –
Work less, earn more.
An overwhelming majority of the 61 companies that participated in the 4-day work week test in the UK, which is said to be the world’s largest, continued to work shorter hours from June to December, and most of the employees reduced stress. It turned out to be in better shape. work and life balance.
That’s all while the company reported that earnings were largely flat during last year’s trial period, increasing compared to the same six months a year ago, according to findings released this week.
David Frayne, Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, said: A team conducting employee interviews for a trial. “I think there is a lot here that should motivate other companies and industries to try.”
The university team collaborated with researchers from Boston College. Autonomy: A research organization focused on the future of work. and in the 4 Day Week Global nonprofit community, companies in a variety of industries ranging from marketing to finance to nonprofits and his 2,900 employees discuss how they can work fewer hours while maintaining the same pay. I have checked if it is compatible with
Not surprisingly, employees reported 71% less burnout, 39% less stress, and 48% greater job satisfaction than before the test.
60% of workers said it became easier to balance work and home responsibilities, and 73% reported greater satisfaction with their lives. Research shows that fatigue is reduced, people sleep more, and mental health improves.
Plattens Fish and Chips Restaurant in the English seaside town of Wells Next the Sea has found just that, especially in the hospitality industry, where people often work seven days a week.
Kirsty Wainwright, general manager of the restaurant, about three hours’ drive northeast of London, said: “What that means is that they are in a better frame of mind and they are clearly communicating that to the clients and the public that come here to eat. So they get better service.”
Wainwright says the biggest hurdle for the seven-day Platten’s, which is open seven days a week, was finding the right model for everyone as they began trials for the busy June season.
They were constantly in touch with their employees and found the most effective ways. That was to divide the staff into two groups, one where he worked two days and the other where he rested for two days.
The concept allows people to work and do chores such as cleaning the house for a day, and then “then have two days off to see friends and family and do something for themselves,” Wainwright said. “And that’s all. Actually, I’m just working to live, not living to work.”
For companies that have rolled out reduced working hours, will the workweek be reduced by one day to create an average 32-hour week, or will some hours of the year be lengthened and others shortened? Regardless, there was no impact on revenue. , the findings say.
The 23 companies that provided sufficient data saw their revenue increase by 1.4% during the trial period (weighted according to business size). Meanwhile, another of his 24 companies saw revenue increase by more than 34% from the same period last year. .
As for Platten’s, “I don’t think we were really measuring it in terms of profitability,” Wainwright said. “It’s not really for us. We wanted to measure it in productivity. And productivity really went through the roof.”
Employees were less likely to quit, 57% less than in the same period last year, and 65% less sick than a year ago, for all who took part in the study. Investigation result.
92% of companies said they would continue to work four days a week, and 30% said it was a permanent change. This includes Platten’s, which said it would stick to the model forever.
Charlotte Lockhart, co-founder and managing director of 4 Day Week Global, said the “huge success” of the UK pilot program reflects previous efforts in Ireland and the US.
Of course, some industries, such as nurses and paramedics, cannot introduce short-time work because they need workers around the clock. These workers and others have been out of work in the UK in recent months demanding better working conditions and wages commensurate with the high cost of living.
The pandemic has changed the way the world works and people are demanding greater flexibility to improve their work-life balance.
