Since the COVID pandemic, a shift in how we approach work and life has shifted with a larger emphasis being on that all-important balance between work and personal life. Whilst this shift has not resulted in most companies adopting a fully remote work policy, how we define productivity and success has moved away from a dominant hour-tracking system in order to focus on quality, efficiency, and trust. Companies around the world have adapted to a more hybrid system as the journey towards synergy between remote and traditional work continues.
In lieu of this, a group of companies has joined the UK’s first four-day week trial. This trial aims to discover how successful and possible a four-day week will be for the future of employment and business. The aim is for employees to work four days per week for the same salary whilst maintaining the typical work turnaround seen in a regular five-day week. However, when it comes to getting the job done, a large majority of employees can be seen putting in overtime and stepping into the blurry zone between work and personal life. The result may just be an unsuccessful four-day working week.
Can the four-day week really get the balance between life and work?
According to CIPD, the balance between work and home varies per person. This may look like one person requiring set work hours with minimal to no non-work related appointments happening during working times. In this case, the approach of some companies to keep work hours work-related, would be successful. However, for those who prefer flexibility and making time work within their own boundaries, this approach isn’t going to do well. The balance between work and life varies per person and per company.
With flexibility a top value for employees and new hires, this may be a bit more tricky.
HReview summarized a recent study done by IOWCA looking at how new SME business owners struggled with this balance. The findings showed some of these SME owners struggling with lack of sleep whilst many SME owners had to readjust both their goals and focus in order to fulfill those goals. Did they succeed? Yes but at a price. According to HReview 44% of these owners had to adjust their time in order to successfully complete their goals and 50% of long-term goals needed to have their time frames extended accordingly.
If these SME owners had to adjust their goals and time in order to be successful, maybe the traditional five-day week is still on the cards.
