Is The 5-Day Working Week Destined to End? (2022)
Hello my friend, welcome back to my blog.
If you’ve connected with my website, I hope you’ve found it useful, if you’re reading the blog (my eighth) for the first time, please do take a the opportunity to look around the website while you’re here.
My Week
This past week I popped into a local Waitrose store and picked up their ‘Weekend’ paper and my attention was immediately sparked by the first article entitled “A Four Day Working Week Such A Positive.” It says and I quote –
“Billed as having the potential to be a ‘triple-dividend policy, which can simultaneously improve human, economic and ecological wellbeing, a four day working week is being trialled across the globe – with positive results being reported in the UK after just one month.”
It is organised by a not for profit organisation – 4 Day Week Global in partnership with the think-tank Autonomy, the campaign and researchers which include Cambridge University, Oxford University and Bolton College, are involved in a 6 month pilot which involves 3,300 UK workers across 70 businesses.
The global CEO, Joe O’Connor has reported to say early reports were hugely positive and encouraging and that the vast majority of companies who trial a 4 day working week end up making it a success and permanent.
You can read more here: 4 Day Week Global
The article goes on to talk about companies in the UK including John Lewis Partnership, but what struck me the most was Joe O’Connor’s quote at the very end, he says, “The disruption to societal and workplace norms by the Covid pandemic has illustrated the potential for very different models of work. It’s been 100 years since we invented the five-day working week and it's time for an update.”
I love that this ‘norm’ is being challenged and wonder what other ‘norms’ we accept, but actually are no longer relevant to the times we are now living in.
What do you think?
Wellbeing update – just really briefly, the shoulder is improving and last week I maintained my healthier diet with better food choices and I have to say, I am really enjoying it. Alongside the simplicity of enjoying it, I seem to have a focus, a real mindset shift, which I am curious about and will explore deeper in the coming weeks and months.
So on to sharing my favourite things this week, they are all focused on Tony Robbins.
Favourite Things
Article – As an introduction to Tony Robbins, he is a global entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, author who has dedicated his life to helping others. He is someone that I discovered some 20 years ago and his teachings helped me so much to develop and grow. I came across this article on his website which is an excellent read - change your words, change your life.
Netflix – If you are interested in exploring Tony’s work further, he has a documentary on Netflix entitled, “I Am Not Your Guru” (trailer link) – be warned though, it is a powerful, emotional rollercoaster of a documentary.
Photo of the Week
Human, economic and ecological wellbeing
What would a normal 4 day working week be like?
“No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.”
Question of the Week
I’ll always leave you with a question, as I think it’s a nice way for us to connect. Please do leave your answers in the comments section and I will read and reply to them. Continuing the theme of balance.
If you currently work a conventional 5 day working week and tomorrow you were told it was a 4 day working week, with no impact on salary, pensions and other benefits, where would you gain the most value?
Thank you for reading. Bye for now.