Lisburn Firm Says 4 Day Working Week Has Been A Great Success

A Lisburn firm who introduced a 4 day working week for its employees around a year ago says the trial has been a resounding success and has urged other companies to roll the system out ahead of a new 4-Day Week pilot which is being launched across Northern Ireland.

This is the second pilot scheme of this nature, with the first pilot in 2022 proving a big hit with participating businesses. In fact it resulted in 90% of the firms involved implementing a 4 day week permanently.

The 4 Day Working Week Isn’t About Reducing Hours

Here is what Jayne Peters, director of people and culture at Lisburn global conveyor belt and rubber parts manufacturer, Smiley Monroe, said about their conversion to a 4 day week a year ago. She said in an article in the Irish News that:

“For us, it is about prioritising our employees’ well-being and work-life balance.

“That’s why our four-day work week, with no reduction in salary, isn’t just about reducing hours.

“It’s about ensuring our people have the time and energy to fulfil family commitments and enjoy life, all while maintaining their productivity and job satisfaction.

“This approach not only gives us a competitive edge in attracting talent but also aligns with the shifting expectations of today’s workforce.”

This Is A Pivotal Moment For Local Businesses In Considering Flexible Work Arrangements

In the same article Labour Relations Agency chief executive Don Leeson said about the scheme:

“Our Department for the Economy is consulting on making the right to request flexible working a day one right in its ‘Good Jobs’ consultation and the new Labour government is preparing to extend this right even further to introduce a default ‘right to flexibility’.

“Therefore, this is a pivotal moment for local businesses to evaluate their readiness for, and willing to consider, flexible work arrangements in all its forms.

“With the UK four-day week campaign driving the second trial this autumn, the timing feels right for NI businesses to explore this and see if it could be a good fit for their operations.”

And finally in the same article, Woman in Business chief executive, Roseann Kelly, claimed that:

“Any initiative that encourages businesses to improve their flexibility is advantageous for both the company and its recruitment efforts,” she said.

“We have found that employers who consider flexible working requests are better positioned to attract and retain a diverse range of talent. This is not something to be avoided or feared.”

The nature of the working week has been evolving rapidly ever since Covid-19 hit our shores and made such an impact on work practices. Businesses need to be more flexible in their approach to employees working hours to ensure they get quality staff onboard.