Work only four days a week at this company

Top Stories

Work only four days a week at this company

Auckland - The actual job performance of these employees did not change, researchers stated.

By Web Report

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Thu 4 Oct 2018, 12:02 PM

Last updated: Thu 4 Oct 2018, 2:09 PM

A New Zealand company will implement a four-day work week for its employees after a trial proved successful with 'no downside'.
Almost 250 employees across 16 offices reported better productivity, a better work-life balance and lower stress levels after working four eight-hour days a week for two months.
Auckland-based company, Perpetual Guardian, a financial services firm managing trusts, wills and estates, paid employees for five days for work equalling 32 working hours instead of 40 across the week, reports the Metro.
Founder of the company, Andrew Barnes, said, "For us, this is about our company getting improved productivity from greater workplace efficiencies. there's no downside for us. The right attitude is a requirement to make it work - everyone has to be committed and take it seriously for us to create a viable long-term model for our business." He added that the staff reported reaping the benefits of extra downtime.
Researchers from Auckland University of Technology studied the effects and found employees were turning up on time, not leaving early, attendance was better and staff took fewer breaks. The actual job performance of these employees did not change, researchers stated.
However, the staff will be given four-day week or five-day week work option. Those who opt to stick to a five-day structure will be given other benefits such as shorter working hours.
Jarrod Haar, a human resources professor at Auckland University, said staff in the trial reported coming back to work energised after their days off. "They worked out where they were wasting time and worked smarter, not harder," Haar said. While Barnes said he came up with the idea after reading a report that suggested people spent less than three hours of their work day being productive.
The trial showed staff stress levels decreased by seven percentage, while stimulation, commitment and a sense of empowerment at work all improved significantly, with overall life satisfaction increasing by five percentage points.
Tammy Barker, a senior client manager at the company and a mother-of-two, said she spent her day off each week running personal errands, which allowed her to spend more time with her family on weekends, the report added.


More news from