Automation may give us all four-day weeks

UK FIRMS should use automation to allow staff to work four-day weeks and ward off an “epidemic of mental health issues”, according to technology entrepreneur Jason Stockwood.

Mr Stockwood – chief executive of Simply Business and former executive at lastminute.com and match.com – told the Press Association that companies need to change their attitude to technology and the traditional workforce model, or he warned the “wheels will come off”.

The author of new business book – titled Reboot: A Blueprint for Happy, Human Business in the Digital Age, released in September – is urging other firms to consider using automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to not just boost business, but also create happy and more productive workforces.

With this week’s World Mental Health Day highlighting the importance of employees’ psychological wellbeing, Mr Stockwood is hoping to lead a force for change in corporate Britain.

Business insurance group Simply Business – which has offices across London, Northampton and in Boston, America – is already practising what he preaches with a fourday-week trial and move to abolish sales force bonuses.

He said it was time for “an upgrade in terms of our models of what work should be”.

“Let’s work a bit less,” he said. “Let’s have another change in society.”