Payescape: Is a 4-day work week coming soon?

Scotland is beginning a trial of a 4-day work week – without any loss of pay. The idea is to improve employee well-being and increase productivity by giving employees extra time off. Other countries have seen success with similar programs including Iceland and New Zealand. So is a 4-day work week coming to the UK soon?

In a recent report, 80% of those surveyed said they would prefer a 4-day work week and it would increase their personal productivity in their jobs. As more companies consider 4-day or flexible work arrangements due to the ongoing pandemic, this change potentially impact business operations in a positive way. As companies strive to provide more benefits and give employees more work-life balance, studies in New Zealand showed an increase of 20% in productivity levels in those employees who were given the option for 4-day work weeks.

If your company is considering a 4-day work week for your employees, there could be some changes or adjustments to normal business operations. Payroll and benefits teams may have to create new policies for employees with flexible work arrangements, so it’s important to have a plan in place and create tracking for how new flexible work weeks are affecting overall company productivity.

To learn more about simplifying employee payroll, HR admin, or time management for your team, talk to us. We have easy-to-use, integrated software to manage payroll, time, and HR admin on one platform so you can provide your team with flexible work options and ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, filing deadlines, and payroll-related requirements. Click here to learn more