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Summer 2022 31 time to rest and recover. This in turn can reduce the volume of absence some employers may be facing. A fourth advantage is the environmental impact. Transitioning to a four-day working week means fewer employees commuting every day, and company buildings being used less often. This could also be of financial benefit to both employers and employees, especially in face of the recent cost of living crisis. DISADVANTAGES Of course there are some disadvantages. Operating four days in comparison to five is undoubtedly going to impact on the level of customer service an organisation can offer. This could affect how often a customer interacts with a company or uses their services, which may in turn result in customers turning to competitors who better suit their buying needs. Some companies will also use the wrong approach. This study is based on employees being more productive in less hours, meaning employees work 80% of their normal weekly hours. Companies asking employees to complete 100% of their working hours in four days may find that employees feel overworked, increasingly stressed and in turn, less productive. Clear instruction is needed for companies to fully benefit from a four-day working week. Not all companies will suit working four days. For organisations who can’t physically close for one day a week (for example supermarkets), the logistics as to how this can be implemented will be a lot more complex, and the implementation will likely be more time consuming. IS A FOUR DAY WORKING WEEK RIGHT FOR YOUR BUSINESS? Ultimately, this will depend on the type of business you operate, your customers’ expectations, and your employees. A four-day working week may have benefits such as better work life balance, reduced stress, and increased productivity, however if it is not practical from a business perspective, then the working model can equally have its disadvantages. It remains to be seen whether a four-day week is the solution to the changing 21st century workplace, but what is certain is that businesses will have to adapt to a changing society. For some employers to remain attractive and successful, they will need to be prepared to move with changing working patterns and trends. << “It remains to be seen whether a four-day week is the solution to the changing 21st century workplace, but what is certain is that businesses will have to adapt to a changing society.” For more advice speak to your Health & Safety Advisor or contact HAE EHA’s BusinessGuard by emailing businessguard@hae.org.uk or call 44 (0)121 380 4612 .