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A pilot scheme to trail the four-day workweek in Britain deemed a success (2022)

economist.com

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Re: A pilot scheme to trail the four-day workweek in Britain deemed a success (2022)

#101

Post by snapcaster »

lbriner wrote: post #54
logifail wrote: post #39

I'm still not really seeing how the 4-day-week, at 5 days pay, is delivering the (almost magical) 20%+ productivity boost that its proponents seem to claim it does. I'm sure almost all people feel better when given the option to work fewer hours for the same money ... I know I would! How does that translate into increased productivity, though?

People realise that their dead time at work is now removed due to the day off so they need to start working smarter. They are more energised, happier, get to do things in their extra day that would otherwise be preying on their minds until the weekend etc. It also forces you to consider anything that stops you getting your work done quickly enough and have more reason to get rid of it. Not sure how it works with a Fi…

Is this comment an attempt to virtue signal? You realize that 99% of people don't view work in this way right? The standard view is "do as little as possible to avoid getting fired"

Re: A pilot scheme to trail the four-day workweek in Britain deemed a success (2022)

#102

Post by soco »

dkdbejwi383 wrote: post #25
lostlogin wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It mentions a fish and chip shop and an education facility. I’d guess that the bulk of fish and chips are sold outside 9-5 Monday to Friday, and that there would be rioting in the streets if school days were reduced 20%.

> there would be rioting in the streets if school days were reduced 20% Why not move schools to a four-day week, too? If it works for adults at work, I'm sure children would see similar benefits. We already know that typical school hours deprive children of much needed rest.

I'm not sure kids can handle 10 hours school days. Or any increase of what they have today. Not sure, just my guess.

Re: A pilot scheme to trail the four-day workweek in Britain deemed a success (2022)

#103

Post by mc32 »

lostlogin wrote: post #13
snehk wrote: post #5

The takeaway for employers: People putting out as much work in four days as they did in five. That must mean that the previous requirement was too low and should be increased.

This assumes an awful lot about the type of work done. Many jobs are about being present between certain given hours. Good luck getting 5 days work out of a nurse in 4 days.

Basically jobs where the person is providing real time services, whether flipping burgers or providing technical support, etc.

Re: A pilot scheme to trail the four-day workweek in Britain deemed a success (2022)

#104

Post by usrbinbash »

jpswade wrote: post #15
unxdfa wrote: post #14

If they blasted middle management, management and process consultants, HR and ancillary corporate fluff staff into the sun we’d get 6 days of work done in 3 days and never have to suffer a Monday or Friday again. But that doesn’t create jobs or indicate growth to investors. Shaking the wrong end of the stick as always.

If this were true, those roles wouldn't exist to begin with. Do you think perhaps there's a reason why those roles have come to be?

Because almost every complex system that includes facilities controlling its own complexities, has a tendency to increase the resources and structural complexity spent on that task.

If this is not actively kept in check, such a system can deteriorate over time, by a positive-feedback loop of newly created controlling facilities created to control the increasing amount of facilities.

This is not to say that managing roles are not required. Of course they are. Complex systems need control. But the proliferation of that control needs to be kept in check, otherwise, the mechanism that is initially helpful (creating structure to control complexity), will become a problem by creating additional complexity of its own.

Re: A pilot scheme to trail the four-day workweek in Britain deemed a success (2022)

#105

Post by unxdfa »

raspberry1337 wrote: post #94
unxdfa wrote: post #14

If they blasted middle management, management and process consultants, HR and ancillary corporate fluff staff into the sun we’d get 6 days of work done in 3 days and never have to suffer a Monday or Friday again. But that doesn’t create jobs or indicate growth to investors. Shaking the wrong end of the stick as always.

This is essentially what Musk did to twitter and HN was FURIOUS. This place can be so paradoxical in nature.

Yes you cant just turn up and throw them all in the fire. You have to unpick them slowly. That was his mistake.

Re: A pilot scheme to trail the four-day workweek in Britain deemed a success (2022)

#106

Post by parineum »

dkdbejwi383 wrote: post #89
t344344 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Women are more likely to stay at home with kids. They need more flexibility. One of main arguments for four-day week.

Is it not misogynistic to assume only women are capable of looking after children?

It is.

Re: A pilot scheme to trail the four-day workweek in Britain deemed a success (2022)

#107

Post by whywhywhywhy »

atom058 wrote: post #95
whywhywhywhy wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>"anti green", if employer demands work at office Tough to argue an environmental stance when it’s heating/lighting/carbon emissions for deliveries and couriers to 50 buildings vs 1.

Do you turn off the heat at home when you go to the office? Lighting is negible with modern technology. How often do you get stuff delivered at work? WFH would also mean you'd need smaller/no offices

Yes. Same at work then / 50. Never.

Stop using environmentalism as a crowbar to get your desires it’s disgusting and devalues the real movement with real issues beyond you wanting to sit in bed till lunch.

Re: A pilot scheme to trail the four-day workweek in Britain deemed a success (2022)

#108

Post by lostlogin »

cbzoiav wrote: post #63
pm215 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The employer can fix up the imbalance -- if there are N bank holidays in the year, give all 80% part time workers 0.8N extra days of holiday allowance above their usual amount (etc), and mandate that they cover the bank holidays with days from their allowance if they would normally work them. (My UK employer does this.)

Or just don't have them off by default and add the days to all employees allowance, but always allow people to book them off if they want. That way if you have a family and are all off you can spend it together, but if you have nothing to do can use it when it better suits you.

It’s time and a half and a day in lieu for working a stat where I am. If you work it much outside 8.30-5 penal rates rise, but that part is employer specific rather than legislated.
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