‘It’s about a better work-life balance’
POLITICIANS have offered mixed views on the benefits of a four-day working week, being piloted locally this summer by accountancy firm PwC.
Staff will work for four days a week, but still be paid for five, over the four-week trial, and the firm hopes that productivity will improve and that staff will respond positively.
While some deputies have suggested that it could empower staff, it was also said the island could be worse off if it was adopted.
‘I definitely see the merit in it and it has been done elsewhere, there has been work done in New Zealand that shows it can increase productivity and create a happier workforce,’ said Policy & Resources vice-president Heidi Soulsby.
She said that financial services was the most obvious sector where it could apply, but it could potentially be expanded to the civil service in the future.
‘People can feel more empowered – it’s about having the work-life balance which is a big thing as people can find themselves in burnout – we have to think about these things. Perhaps we don’t need to think about more people being in the workforce, but increasing the productivity of people already in it.
‘We know there are health and wellbeing issues in the workforce,’ said Deputy Soulsby.
Some 60 companies are taking part in a four-day week trial in the UK, which is thought to be the biggest pilot scheme to take place anywhere in the world.
Speaking on the Guernsey Press politics podcast, Deputy John Dyke disagreed with the idea, saying the concept of the four-day week arose from people in both public and private sector not wanting to work a full week, or wanting to work from home.
‘We started off with flexible working, which works fine. I’ve been a partner in a law firm and I’ve always allowed, particularly female staff, to have flexible working, so I think that’s a very good idea, but it’s moving on now to more working from home and even working fewer days.
‘Now if we do that, as sure as night follows day, we’re going to produce a little bit less and we’re not going to be quite as wealthy as we were.’
He said he was curious to see the results of the PwC pilot, asking how the working week would be shortened without increasing the hours in those four days and not reducing productivity.
The idea has been raised several times in the States Assembly, particularly by Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, who has highlighted potential benefits.
‘More flexible and hybrid working arrangements are becoming more of a norm. These are designed to give employees more control over their work week – where and when they work,’ she said.
‘The benefits will be different for different people. For some, it may be having more time with kids, doing the school run or simply having a meal together. For others to adopt a new hobby, have a better work-life balance, feel more in control and be more motivated.’
The flexible model could include working from home for part of the week, or choosing to start earlier or stay later depending on what was convenient for the individual, she said.
‘The economics of it is having a more productive workforce that can be retained for longer.
‘The global war on talent and skills shortages are driving businesses to be more innovative in their practices, remuneration and culture. More flexible work practices could be that win-win that improves our wellbeing while making us more productive.
‘It’s encouraging to see more and more companies like PwC launching such arrangements following extensive consultation and trials.’
