Keep on your radar: Implementing a 4-day working week

It’s all in the planning – a badly planned process may result in some negative effects which could undermine the whole purpose. You need a working party who can think of every angle, come up with clear guidelines and a good process. Importantly be clear about what success looks like (be creative here!), how you’ll monitor and measure, especially in relation to maintaining productivity.
A pilot is a great idea – start with one department for example and use the pilot to iron-out the things that are not working too well. Don’t rush in – keep it slow initially.
Carefully measure – analyse the benefits to employees and your business, keep doing so over time to ensure success isn’t short term
Keep measuring at appropriate points in both the pilot and when/if you roll it out across the business
It won’t always be comfortable because this is a big change. Some of your employees may even leave because on their non-working day they start their own business or change direction or re-train, for example.
If after you pilot it you choose to make a 4-day working week a permanent fixture, don’t forget to amend your employment contracts and policies

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