As workers across England enjoy the long Bank Holiday weekend, one businessman has called for a four-day week to replace the 9am-5pm – without dropping pay.
Andrew Barnes, who is based in New Zealand, has implemented the change in his own business, and claims his employees work even harder in their shorter weeks to earn the reward of a long weekend.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Mr Barnes argued the world had changed and the working week should change with it, as many families don’t have one parent staying at home to look after the children.
GMB viewers backed the idea, with one tweeting that it will improve ‘work/life balance and well-being’.
Mr Banes runs a trust management company called Perpetual Guardian, which claims staff stress levels have lowered from 45 per cent to 38 per cent after the trial, and work/life balance rose to 78 per cent from 54.
Andrew Barnes, who is based in New Zealand, implemented a four day week in his company Perpetual Guardian, a trust management firm, and claims it has made his staff more productive. Pictured on Good Morning Britain on ITV on Monday
He said: ‘The reality is it really was a sensible conversation I had with the staff about if you deliver me the productivity I’m looking for, and if you can do it faster, if you can do it four days, then I’m happy.
‘I’m getting the output for which I’m paying for you’re getting a day off.’
He claimed that the five-day eight hours a day week is an outdated concept that doesn’t fit with the modern world.
GMB viewers took to Twitter to backed the idea of companies reducing staff hours to just four days a week, with one tweeting that it will improve ‘work/life balance and well-being’ (pictured)
He continued: ‘It’s a construct of the 19th century. Our lives, how we work, how we interact, what causes distractions in a day, looking at social media, issues from home, one member of the family isn’t always at home looking after the family – that’s all changed.
‘What I’m saying is let’s have a conversation on productivity, let’s have a conversation on working smarter and if we can therefore shorten the working week, that has significant broader social benefits.’
Viewers took to Twitter to call for four-day week to be implemented across the UK.
One tweeted: ‘Great for people’s work/life balance and well-being. I’ve worked a four day week since having my children and it has worked for my family really well. Yes it’s a dip in income but our well-being is more important.’
Andrew Barnes, left, argued that the world has changed and the working week should be changed with it, as many families can’t have one parent staying at home with the children. Pictured on GMB with Apprentice winner James White
‘I think the 4 day week is a brilliant idea ! I’m a department leader myself and I believe it will Improve productivity!’ another posted.
A third agreed: ‘Me myself and I work 4days a week and it works for me 38hours .. 3 days off feels like a week #happydays.’
Other countries across Europe has shorter working weeks than the UK, including Germany, whose employees work 28 hours, and France, who do 35.
He said companies would go to other recruitment firms if he doesn’t have staff in. Pictured right with Mr Banes (second right), Kate Garraway (second left) and Jeremy Kyle (left)
Mr Barnes was debating with last year’s Apprentice winner James White, who said shorter weeks aren’t practical for some firms.
He runs his own recruitment company called Right Time Recruitment and argued that he would lose out on work if he has to give employees an extra day off.
He explained: ‘If I had a client who came to me on a Wednesday and sent me a job saying ”Could you work this?” and my guy wasn’t in on a Wednesday and they sent it to someone else, he could come back in on the Thursday could be already gone.’