Kate Hulley, CEO of a Wigan-based packaging firm, has stated that transitioning to a four-day work week has resulted in enhanced productivity among her employees.
Belmont Packaging, the company responsible for manufacturing boxes for major retailers like Asda and Tesco, altered its schedules after a highly successful trial in 2021.
This move aligns with a larger initiative involving approximately 3,000 workers, which has demonstrated that reduced working hours contribute to increased happiness and improved well-being.
Hulley explained that the adoption of four 10-hour workdays per week allowed employees to enjoy “more quality time with their families.” While there was initially significant skepticism among the staff regarding this change, the positive outcomes quickly won over all 31 colleagues.
Hulley stated, “The staff now have the opportunity to spend more meaningful time with their families and return to work on Mondays after a rejuvenating three-day weekend.”
Stacey Galloway, an employee at the Hindley Green site, shared her experience, saying, “Before transitioning to the four-day work week, my weekends were consumed by chores such as washing, cooking, cleaning, and ironing… but now, on Fridays, I can handle all of that while the children are at school.”
The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, an organization that promotes employment standards, encouraged more companies to adopt similar practices. It emphasized that larger companies, weary of flexible working arrangements, should reconsider how they structure their employment offers to adapt to the evolving world of work.
