To work four days a week instead of five – and get to keep your salary. It can now become a reality for more and more companies after a new British study shows that it has a positive effect, both for employees and employers.
– Just the feeling that you know you can go home after six hours makes you work better, says Christer Thörnqvist, docent in occupational science at the University of Skövde.
“Slightly embarrassing”
Thörnqvist believes that many would rather wish for a shorter working week rather than a salary increase if it were to be offered. Efter fem’s viewers can also testify in a poll on Instagram. There, a full 87 percent were positive about a four-day week.
– And it is even clearer if you look at men and women. Women do more unpaid work at home and at work, so they are even more positive about this, says Christer Thörnqvist.
– Considering the enormous productivity development we’ve had this half century, it’s a bit of a shame that we haven’t been able to cut working hours more, he continues.
The Swedish company is testing
A Swedish company that is leading the way for this, and in fact for the four-day week this Monday, is the bag company Sandqvist.
– The timing is good, it rhymes with our values to run a sustainable and responsible company, says the company’s CEO Caroline Lind.
But there are also some risks with introducing a four-day week, says Christer Thörnqvist.
See what the expert has to say about the pros and cons of the four-day week in the player above.