Is a Four-Day Week Practical?

Four-Day Week

We’re very lucky to be well known in our region as one of the go-to HR service providers, and our Director Carole Burman was happy to help answer The Big Question in a recent edition of the Business East Magazine. This month the question was – Is a four-day week practical? Here’s what Carole had to say –

Our work sees us delivering HR advice to all shapes and sizes of business, many of whom have explored more flexible work formats in recent years.

In Suffolk, several have found that by introducing things like a shorter day on Friday, or by implementing a more structured Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) programme, where staff spend time working for a cause or charity, it does a great deal for staff morale and motivation.

When it comes to working flexibly, we always advise companies that there are three things to consider – Is it good for the business? Is it good for the employee?

And, is it, crucially, good for the customer?

If it’s clear this is the case, then it’s definitely a strategy which will be worth the business exploring further. What’s critical for any employer to understand is that, no matter what their working structure in terms of days or hours, the vast majority of us are more productive if we feel engaged in, and passionate about, our world of work. If we can enthuse staff and make a job feel more ‘enjoyable’, then naturally we are less concerned about how many hours we are spending on that work commitment.

Make sure you get your copy of Business East. We’ll be back with more advice soon.