Workers tempted by firms’ four-day promises

Just over half of Scotland’s white-collar workers would be tempted to move to a firm which offered a four-day week, a survey has suggested.

According to Hays Scotland’s latest Quarterly Insights Survey, 53% of professionals north of the border would move to a company which offered a four-day week, and almost a third believed this would become a reality within two to five years.

But in bad news for workers wanting a permanent long weekend, 63% of firms told the survey of 659 Scottish businesses they were not considering the shorter work week.

Just 26% of employers thought it would become a reality in that time. Only 2% of firms have introduced the shorter week, while 2% were trialling it, the survey said.

Keith Mason, director of Hays Scotland, said companies were “getting more creative in what they can offer prospective staff when trying to recruit in a competitive market” but warned before making the leap, firms should be “certain that it’s a sustainable model”.

“They need to be sure to get the basics right such as offering competitive salaries, along with flexible and hybrid working,” he said.

“Actions such as having a strong purpose and offering staff the opportunity to take volunteer days is attractive, as is introducing wellbeing days.”

Thousands of workers from 60 firms across the UK are trialling the four-day week from June until December.

The main reason cited by both employers and employees in Scotland for adopting the four-day week was to benefit mental health. “Organisational productivity” was cited by 12% of workers.