FabSwingers.com forum: 4 days working week….

By *abio OP Man
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

Right so over the last 6 months there has been the big trial of this going on in the uk.. and the results are really interesting

Of the 61 companies who have taken part… 56 have decided to extend the trial further… And 18 of those have decided to offer it permanently!

Also…. Productivity has gone up…. Sickness has gone down!! And 80% of the staff are happier!

So… I already do “5 in 4” in my job (not the 3 day weekend.. but with Wednesday off I basically only work 2 days at a time) I do 9.5 hours days rather than 7.5 days.. but if I am in.. I am in!!

So… given the option? Would you like to do it?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Absolutely yes. Will the international US owned company take it on. Extremely unlikely....

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By *ornLordMan
over a year ago

Wiltshire and London

If I was still in full-time work for somebody else I'd want to have the option.

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By *ools and the brainCouple
over a year ago

couple, us we him her.

Work Monday to Friday.

Start at 12pm finish at 1pm and get an hour for lunch please.

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By *ools and the brainCouple
over a year ago

couple, us we him her.

Seriously I doubt that there will be a huge uptake, particularly among the work perverts who think everyone should work a 15 hr day and be available 24/7.

Can't see building trade taking it on.

Auto trade?

Unless they bring in a shift pattern but lot's of places already working on skeleton staffing levels.

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By *b72Man
over a year ago

Nottingham

As a truck driver there's a snowballs chance in hell of this happening. I can guarantee that the company's that say yes are mostly office based.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

As an office based worker, I wouldn't even mind my usual Monday to Friday as it is now but with a half day on Friday. Even those few extra hours can help me with chores and not eat into my weekend as much

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By *agerMorganMan
over a year ago

Canvey Island

I used to do a 4 on, 4 off pattern and enjoyed them. Also meant you could book 4 days off and get nice time off.

Book 8 days and you’re almost an entire month off. I don’t see many companies offering this, it’s too ingrained to work Mon-Fri 9-5:30pm

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

I did this for years before I retired and any short term contracts I took on afterwards I specified I'd only do four days a week max but preferably three and eventually cut that to two.

I was asked back time and again because as one employee said "you do more work in two days than others do in five".

More free time is great in my opinion

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I work a 4 day week morning's and back shifts, but it incorporates the weekend and every 3 weeks I get a 5 day long weekend same for a Wednesday and Thursday off but different weeks obvs

I love it the work life balance is wonderful and the shifts make child care MUCH cheaper than if we were both in a 9-5

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By *elix SightedMan
over a year ago

Cloud 8

Absolutely I would do this! I’m not surprised people feel more energised and productive, I bet I would.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I wouldn't extend my working day to accommodate an extra day off, not worth having no life for. But everyone should get at least an early finish on a Friday as most people are already in weekend mode by dinner time anyway.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

When you run your own business you never really switch off completely but I think the 4 day week is great. It’s generally those who micro manage or who don’t trust their staff that struggle with the concept.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Yes, I think it's the way to go

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By *wisted999Man
over a year ago

North Bucks

I work 4 or 3 day weeks. It’s bloody brilliant. Love going to work and I hardly ever need to take a casual day off so it fits my travel plans as well as I can save up my holiday days for meaningful things.

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

I would love this but in my jobs it just not possible. I work across so many time zones and at certain times of the month and year it’s practically 247 but I get balance back in other ways like taking extra leave but working from the beach etc

If it’s possible in your role and you want it then push hard for it from the top middle and bottom. If I had a larger team in each country I’d definitely allow them to do it ,

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By *arry monk40Man
over a year ago

Telford

This is my last 5 day week contract I'm going to 4 day weeks

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

"Right so over the last 6 months there has been the big trial of this going on in the uk.. and the results are really interesting

Of the 61 companies who have taken part… 56 have decided to extend the trial further… And 18 of those have decided to offer it permanently!

Also…. Productivity has gone up…. Sickness has gone down!! And 80% of the staff are happier!

So… I already do “5 in 4” in my job (not the 3 day weekend.. but with Wednesday off I basically only work 2 days at a time) I do 9.5 hours days rather than 7.5 days.. but if I am in.. I am in!!

So… given the option? Would you like to do it?

What is missing from this study is the fact that UK has one of the lowest productivity rates in the modern world.

You could try just about anything and productivity would increase.

If need cover at all times and days and you only have 2 specialists per area it’s not possible in case one gets Ill or leaves and you have a temporary constraint.

If you have 3 or more principals per function then it’s much easier to be flexible but productivity of them Is lower so salary/ bonus is capped. In my experience people would rather work harder and have less flexibility and be paid high than have it easier for average wages, especially if they have families, mortgages etc.

Compare UK productivity to US, France or UAE , UK focus is always on high employment / low skills, so it’s much easier to do.

France and US allow unemployment to grow so that productivity is much higher per person , but things like flexibility and annual leave are very low and in UAE works on a skills permit basis, annual leave and flexible working is largely determined by labour law not employers so that productivity remains high.

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By *wisted999Man
over a year ago

North Bucks

"I would love this but in my jobs it just not possible. I work across so many time zones and at certain times of the month and year it’s practically 247 but I get balance back in other ways like taking extra leave but working from the beach etc

If it’s possible in your role and you want it then push hard for it from the top middle and bottom. If I had a larger team in each country I’d definitely allow them to do it , "

Interested to know your job. You seem to hang out in some cool places.

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By *2000ManMan
over a year ago

Worthing

Yes and I know people who a 4 day week is a job criteria when changing.

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By *rMonkeyMan
over a year ago

Somewhere

Yes, I'd like to, would never work in my field though.

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By *UGGYBEAR2015Man
over a year ago

BRIDPORT

The whole concept is a bit alien to me, but if it works for both the employer and employee then why not.

I do think it’s something that can only be judged on a situation by situation basis not universal legislation.

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By *rC99Man
over a year ago

Liverpool

I work 4 on 4 off but would happily work Mon - Fri as doing 4 on 4 off you have to work 5 weekends in 8

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Yes I keep suggesting this to my company but suggesting a 5 day on with 3 days off so that weekends are on a rota, this gives weekends available with the kids and the week available for myself. Also more time off as I predicted would lead to less sickness absence and availability to visit doctos and dentists during week day when they are open instead of taking half day unpaid leave.

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By *oupleOfFilthyWeirdosCouple
over a year ago

Merthyr Tydfil

Are those the one's dealing with all the paperwork associated to said logistic companies? To be fair, neither would work single handedly but the perception always seems to be the that the 'pen-pushers' are the ones demanding better working conditions.

If we took a step back, Joe public realised that they can't have everything at the click of a finger, and the attitude of 'look at me, I work a 70hr week, I'm such a hero' changed, then we'd have a far better functioning population.

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By *ust RachelTV/TS
over a year ago

Horsham

I used to work a 4 on 4 off shift, that was a brilliant shift for me. The shifts were 12 hour shifts though.

You take 4 days off and get 16 days off in total.

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By *tephTV67TV/TS
over a year ago

Cheshire

My new job offers 3 day work from home and I can also bank hours. It’s one of the reasons I decided to risk changing careers with just a slight increase in salary.

Do you work to live or live to work I suspect most work to have a better lifestyle, more time off will certainly help.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Are those the one's dealing with all the paperwork associated to said logistic companies? To be fair, neither would work single handedly but the perception always seems to be the that the 'pen-pushers' are the ones demanding better working conditions.

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By *ealitybitesMan
over a year ago

Belfast

I'm the only full time employee in the company and there are 2 part time staff but one of those is leaving in a few weeks.

It's quieter at the moment but 4 day weeks just wouldn't work due to the short shelf life on the products we make which have to be delivered swiftly.

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By *orphia2003Woman
over a year ago

Tonypandy.

I work 12hr shifts on a 4 days / 4 rest basis.

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By *ryandseeMan
over a year ago

Yorkshire

Unfortunately many companies now expect to work for as long as it takes to do the job leaving people working well into the evening and often at weekends too. They will not want to change that, I am sure. The UK is one of the worst countries to adopt this sort of mentality in the workplace and people frown upon anyone who is clock watching. It's a shame as it leads to stress, exhaustion and of course absenteeism when people can't sustain it for ever.

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