‘Four-day week saves me £350 a month on childcare’

Published On Sep 3, 2024, 7:11 PM

The article discusses the increasing adoption of compressed working hours, where employees condense their full-time work into fewer days, usually four. This trend is partly driven by workers seeking more flexible schedules and better work-life balance. Some employees report enhanced productivity and cost savings, such as reduced childcare expenses, while others find the longer hours challenging and less conducive to productivity. Companies like Emerald Publishing support flexible options for staff, but the effectiveness of compressed hours varies among employees. The Labour Party is proposing to strengthen workers' rights to request flexible hours, which could make it more difficult for employers to deny such requests. However, there is no mandate for a universal four-day workweek. Small businesses express concern about implementing such changes due to operational challenges.