Essex boss on four day working week: "Look after staff and the business will perform better"
Staff at an Essex firm are already working four days a week - with no decrease in pay
Last updated 24th Jan 2022
A number of companies in the UK will trial a four-day working week, with employees being paid the same amount as if they were working five days a week.
Around 30 British companies will take part in the scheme, asking employees to maintain 100 per cent productivity, but only 80 per cent of the time as they have an extra day off.
David Cann is Managing Director of Target Publishing in West Essex. He introduced a four day working week back in March 2020.
"Initially we put it in place because there was a bit of an advertising revenue decline - obviously COVID hit and people's businesses were suffering... so we started the four day week really as a result of cost cutting."
"We cut our staff salaries by 20% along with their working hours, so in other words, they were only being paid for a four day week, but that didn't actually sit very well with me... they were only receiving 80% of their pay for working a four day week.
Within four months of introducing that, we saw the benefits of that four day week, and we decided, as a company, to give something back to employees and introduce a four day week but for 100% of your money, so you only work four days, but you get 100% of your pay."
Since doing this, David says he's seen numerous benefits:
"People's well being improved. You heard stories from staff of doing things differently... doing home life admin on a Friday rather than trying to, for example, ring the gas board for two hours on a Wednesday lunchtime, whilst worrying that you've only got one hour for lunch. It took the pressure off people."
"People aren't paying for nursery on Friday and can reduce their nursery costs. So, from a parent's perspective, we saw a lot of upsides where people could not feel guilty, or as guilty, which is great."
"We also saw productivity increase and as a result of the productivity, we saw profitability increase as well, so... look after staff and the business will perform better."
He says he has no plans to return to a five day work week and would encourage others to try it:
"As an MD, you're always reviewing the performance of the business, but there's no need to change it. Everyone's happy, the business is performing, so, for us I can see this is here to stay."
"If any other employers or employees are listening, it would be prudent to talk to employees about it and see what the opportunities there are... It may not work for all business to do it the way that we have, but just consider it."
The scheme is also being trialled in the US, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.