In my comment for last week’s newsletter, I referenced a recent report that outlined the benefits of a four-day working week.
To re-cap, 2,900 employees from 61 companies across the UK took part in a study to see how a four-day week would impact on productivity and staff wellbeing.
The results were eye opening, with no loss of productivity and a happier workforce that took fewer sick days.
In fact, it was so successful, that 56 of the companies that took part decided to extend the arrangement and 18 have made a permanent switch.
That prompted me to ask whether our industry would be open to such an arrangement. Well, as it turns out, there are companies that have already done so.
Steve Brown, director at Ipswich Glass, emailed to say that the company switched to a four-day week on sealed unit production, before the national trial was even thought of.
Running long 7-7 shifts from Monday to Friday – which would often run into Saturday in order to stay on top of production – Steve explained that absenteeism was high and recruitment was difficult.
He subsequently created a rota, based around a four-day week, and very quickly noted that output was up 20% and absenteeism and holiday requests were down.
Steve added that ongoing recruitment issues and the loss of some European staff ultimately led to an investment in an automated sealing line – saving three staff – but concluded by saying that a four-day week had shown the potential to make the business more prosperous and give a better work life balance for staff.
Mark Sansome, owner of M&S Windows in Newton Abbot, also emailed to explain how a shift to a four-day work has proved to be a big success.
Introduced at the beginning of last year on a six-month trial basis, the arrangement at M&S is loosely operated around four, 10-hour shifts, with breaks to suit.
According to Mark, production increased by 7% and staff positivity ‘went through the roof’, with the most popular outcome said to be the fact that staff now enjoy a three-day weekend and don’t have to use so much holiday allocation.
So, there you have it – if you’re running a business and staff morale is low, resulting in low productivity, then it might be time to trial a shorter working week…
Four the win
In my comment for last week’s newsletter, I referenced a recent report that outlined the benefits of a four-day working week.
To re-cap, 2,900 employees from 61 companies across the UK took part in a study to see how a four-day week would impact on productivity and staff wellbeing.
The results were eye opening, with no loss of productivity and a happier workforce that took fewer sick days.
In fact, it was so successful, that 56 of the companies that took part decided to extend the arrangement and 18 have made a permanent switch.
That prompted me to ask whether our industry would be open to such an arrangement. Well, as it turns out, there are companies that have already done so.
Steve Brown, director at Ipswich Glass, emailed to say that the company switched to a four-day week on sealed unit production, before the national trial was even thought of.
Running long 7-7 shifts from Monday to Friday – which would often run into Saturday in order to stay on top of production – Steve explained that absenteeism was high and recruitment was difficult.
He subsequently created a rota, based around a four-day week, and very quickly noted that output was up 20% and absenteeism and holiday requests were down.
Steve added that ongoing recruitment issues and the loss of some European staff ultimately led to an investment in an automated sealing line – saving three staff – but concluded by saying that a four-day week had shown the potential to make the business more prosperous and give a better work life balance for staff.
Mark Sansome, owner of M&S Windows in Newton Abbot, also emailed to explain how a shift to a four-day work has proved to be a big success.
Introduced at the beginning of last year on a six-month trial basis, the arrangement at M&S is loosely operated around four, 10-hour shifts, with breaks to suit.
According to Mark, production increased by 7% and staff positivity ‘went through the roof’, with the most popular outcome said to be the fact that staff now enjoy a three-day weekend and don’t have to use so much holiday allocation.
So, there you have it – if you’re running a business and staff morale is low, resulting in low productivity, then it might be time to trial a shorter working week…
Glass Times
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