Since a successful 10-week trial in 2019, Ground Projects have been working a 4-day 32-hour working week based on a five day full time salary.
The Four Day Week has been in the news recently in line with government plans to increase flexible working. The Four Day Work Week campaign calls for Britain to adopt a four-day working week and reduce employees’ maximum working hours to 32 hours per week.
The campaign stresses that reducing the traditional 5-day work week to 4 can bring with it a whole host of benefits, including:
- Increased employee retention and recruitment – employers attract and retain high quality employees, saving costs and reducing disruption in repeated recruitment,
- Improved overall health – Employees take fewer sick days, reporting an improvement in mental health and reduction in stress and burnout,
- Increased productivity – Employees often achieve more in less time when they have a better work-life balance. This is supported by numerous studies.
- More environmentally conscious behavior – less commuting time and fewer lunches and takeaway drinks purchased
We asked our employees what they think about GPCL’s 4-day work week…
What do you do with the extra time on a Friday?
“ALL the life admin. As a mum of two, the washing pile is never done, and home improvements are on a constant cycle. I try and get ahead on a Friday so the weekends are less manic. I often catch up with people for coffee/ lunch between the school runs.”
“I tend to do all my “Life admin” on a Friday to free up my weekend. I also make sure to put time aside to do the things I enjoy such as going to the gym, playing squash or meeting up with friends.”
“So many things. More exercise, doing some shopping when less people are about. More time on hobbies such as setting up a jazz band. More time for family.”
“It varies, sometimes catch up on things at home, spend time with family, go out for a long walk or cycle ride. Even bits of work!”
“I find the extra day really useful in order to undertake jobs I would have traditionally undertaken at the weekend. Household chores, life admin etc. This then leaves me free at the weekends to spend more quality time with family or indulging my hobbies.”
How does having only 4 workdays impact your work/productivity/focus?
“The deadline is brought forward a day and this helps really focus the mind. Deliverables are by no means rushed but efficiency is key.”
“Working only four days helps focus my mind and I believe I’m more efficient with how I spend my time knowing I have a longer weekend!”
“Easier to focus when I know I have extra days to do all my non-work-related tasks.”
“I think it helps me focus. I feel better rested after a longer weekend and more energised (usually!). Plenty of studies back this up.”
“Having a 4-day work week is great because it gives me more time to relax and do things that I can’t on the weekend. Due to this, I feel more focused and productive at work.”
“The 4 day week initially attracted me to the company as it was a great selling point and fairly unique! Only working four days a week focusses the mind as I know I need to get my work done in a shorter amount of time to the wider industry, but I can honestly say that I feel more productive in those 4 days than working a standard week. The carrot of knowing I have an extra day to myself in the week is great motivation. Also have the side bonus that if I do need to work Friday to attend a meeting, get a report out etc. it feels less like work and more just like another little job to do at the weekend.”
How does it impact your mental health?
“I’m sure my weekends would be even more manic without my Friday buffer. It’s also great to be able to connect with the kids straight after school on this day and we normally have a Friday ‘coffee’ catch up somewhere local.”
“Positively! We have a healthy work-life balance and there is a good separation between work and social life, which makes me feel refreshed come Monday. We are flexible and do work Fridays when needed, so knowing we have an additional day to hit deadlines also helps reduce any pressure!”
“More relaxed, less anxious.”
“There are clear benefits, with a day with no pressure and time to exercise and relax, even working doesn’t feel pressurised.”
“The impact on my mental health has been noticeable. Having that extra day to decompress and recharge before the next working week has been really useful!”
How does it compare to previous workplaces?
“I’ve worked a 4-day week for at least 10 years, it’s hard to remember what working life it was like before this! What I would say is because everyone in the company is on the same timetable, there isn’t the ‘part time’ label that I may have had/ felt historically. I think things have changed in the industry with regards to part time working, particularly since Covid (and for both genders). But any stigma I may have felt just doesn’t exist at ground projects.”
“I joined GPCL after finishing university, so a 4-day week is all I’ve ever known! I’ve held various retail roles before and during university and can safely say the working environment is much more accommodating and flexible!”
“Much better.”
“I have worked a 4 ½ day week before but squeezing 40 hours into it. Overall its completely different and so much better than anywhere else I’ve worked.”
“Everywhere else I’ve worked has been 5 days a week and I can say this has been the least stressful place I’ve worked so that tells it’s own story!”