Does working a four-day week make you happier?

The idea of working a four-day week is becoming more popular among employees who want to have a better work-life balance. Laura Etchells, a mother of two from Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, is one of those who has embraced this change. She works in the publishing industry and has managed to compress her full-time job into just four days instead of the traditional five. This shift has not only made her happier but has also allowed her to save around £350 a month on childcare costs. Laura explains, 'The longer days allow me to get my teeth stuck into things a bit more,' highlighting how the extra day off, which is Friday for her, has improved her productivity at work. She believes that if she were to work anywhere else, having a compressed work week would be a necessity. While the financial savings were a factor in her decision, the main reason for her change was to spend more quality time with her children while still maintaining her full-time job. The BBC has reported that many others, like Laura, are also opting for compressed hours. Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds held a meeting with business leaders to discuss a new plan that is part of the upcoming Employment Bill. Since April, employees have had the right to request flexible working arrangements from day one, including the option for compressed hours. However, legal experts believe that Labour's plan will likely make it more difficult for employers to reject requests for flexible working. Currently, workers must persuade their employers to allow flexible hours. Under Labour's proposal, employment solicitor Alison Loveday states that companies may need to justify their reasons for denying a four-day work week. It is important to note that the proposals do not align with the official four-day week campaign, which advocates for the same pay for fewer hours. Instead, Labour has indicated that employees would still be expected to complete the same amount of work, just spread across different working patterns, such as four 10-hour shifts. Laura's employer, Emerald Publishing, offers a variety of flexible working options, which they believe enhances productivity and improves work-life balance. However, Emma Tregenza, the chief legal and people officer at the company, acknowledges that while the benefits are evident, working compressed hours can be demanding. She mentions, 'While the benefits are clear, it’s worth noting that it can be a long day for people doing compressed hours. ' This can also create challenges for other team members who work a standard schedule, making it difficult to coordinate everyone's working hours.