After a couple of weeks of working four days, how’re you feeling?

Thousands of workers are set to trial a four-day working week from June (2022), to examine working patterns and productivity, focussing on output rather than the hours worked approach we’ve all become used to.

The trial comes after many companies have shifted working patterns in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and workers have likewise adjusted their expectations and beliefs around what work should look like.

But what are our thoughts on the four-day week as recruiters?

Employee attraction

Companies who have adopted more flexible and hybrid approaches to work post pandemic have been able to attract talent more effectively than those who returned to the full-time office model. Should companies be able to offer a four-day week, provided productivity remains high and salaries are representative of a five-day model, we anticipate it to be a huge benefit for employee attraction, especially in today’s candidate driven market.

Employee retention

It’s not all about new people. In similar studies in Iceland a four-day week was seen to help workers to feel less stressed and at risk of burnout, alongside improving their health and work-life balance. Happier employees can lead to higher levels of staff retention, helping to cut down on recruitment costs and time invested into hiring and training replacements.

Company growth

We’ve all heard stories about how remote working increases employee productivity, but does it really have a knock on impact on company growth?

Following implementing a 4-day week THRYVE (a London based tech company) saw sales increase by 30%. The additional day off holds the potential to also increase consumer spending, increasing high-street sales by a projected 20%.

With higher profitability and demand, often comes the need to recruit and expand teams, having a positive impact on company growth in the longer-term.

On the flip side

Of course adopting a four-day week doesn’t come without it’s risks, and despite its popularity some longer term concerns continue to niggle in the back of business owners and some employees minds, especially:

• How will workers maintain the balance of 5 days work across 4 days? Will this contribute to more stress in the longer term?

• Depending on how it’s arranged, will businesses miss out on potential opportunities if there isn’t manpower in the office to pick up requirements.

What are your thoughts on the four-day week? Have you been able to successfully implement it? We’d be keen to hear your feedback on our poll.