Four-day working week programme to be trialled in Ireland

We think this will go down very well!

Four Day Week Ireland campaign is launching a six-month experiment to test out a working week of just four days.

The pilot programme says it can deliver positive results for both workplaces and employees, giving a better work/life balance.

And sure who wouldn't want a three-day weekend every week to rejuvenate?

The best part is that dropping a day won't affect an employee's pay.

Four Day Week Ireland is made up of representatives from trade union Fórsa, ICTU, the National Women’s Council, Friends of the Earth Ireland and academics.

Chairperson Joe O'Connor said, "In the last year we have seen radical shifts in our working practices. More flexible ways of working are here to stay."

Image via Pixabay.com

The plan will give supports, training and mentoring to participating organisations to help them carry it out smoothly.

It'll begin in January and is also running in other countries, including the US, the UK and New Zealand.

Four-day working weeks have already been developed and tried out in the likes of Spain and Scotland.

We've all shown great adaptability over the past year with Covid-19 and 'working from home'. This campaign thinks this has really made us all re-consider the way we work.

Image via Pixabay.com

Joe O'Connor also says that one less day of work actually leads to better productivity.

"We know from international research that a shorter working week doesn’t mean a loss in productivity - in many cases, it is the opposite," he said.

And it seems some Irish businesses have already jumped on the initiative, including Donegal based 3D Issue.

3D Issue Chief Executive Paul McNulty said it has so many benefits and that "staff are happier, more refreshed and more engaged in their work."

The Government is backing the initiative, and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said it's an "ambitious" idea.