Firms sign up to four-day week

Trial backs productivity and effectiveness of new model of work

Working four days a week and getting paid for five is gaining traction in New Zealand, with 10 companies recently signing up to the movement.

The Kiwi companies have joined more than 100 organisations throughout the world in a pilot programme designed to track and measure the effectiveness of the growing trend.

The model, created by Perpetual Guardian founder Andrew Barnes, pays workers paid 100 per cent of their salary to work four days a week, on the basis that they achieve 100 per cent productivity.

Māori language and business consultancy Haemata signed up to the programme six weeks ago after lockdowns left the team tired and in need of change.

Te Aorangi Murphy-Fell, from Haemata, said the team felt how they worked needed a shake-up.

“After lockdown, we had a meeting and talked about how we felt. The common theme was that it was tough, that it was a grind, and work was like groundhog day.

“Everyone had a chance to reflect. We chose to do things differently.”

The company looked into the fourday week and decided to trial the programme, along with the hybrid work model where some days are spent working from home.

The team of 10 stagger their days off so that no week is the same and everyone gets to enjoy an occasional long weekend.

Murphy-Fell said the trial was in its early days but so far it was positive.

“We are proudly whānau-based, so having that extra day is great.”

Haemata’s progress is being followed by researchers at Boston College. Productivity is studied, data is crunched and support and advice given to the company as it navigates the change to the work week.

Auckland University of Technology, University of Queensland, and the University of Sydney are following other companies.

Movement founder Barnes said the pandemic had given the four-day-week the push it needed.

“People are not interested in returning to a pre-2020 model of work, and even then it was clear the five-day week was no longer fit for purpose,” Barnes told the Herald on Sunday.

“There is a much more intense focus on productivity and flexibility, which the four-day week offers.”

With news of congestion charges and the rise in fuel cost, Barnes said the four-day week had become even more necessary.

“Factors like fuel cost inflation are highly influential…not to mention our $1.3 billion congestion problem in Auckland alone.”

Companies have access to support with the pilot programme including workshops delivered by four-day week experts and pioneers, mentoring by four-day week business leaders and networking with other pilot companies.

Barnes introduced the four-day week to the company he founded — Perpetual Guardian — in 2018.

Work was like groundhog day

Te Aorangi Murphy-Fell