The new working scheme seeks to make employees happier and more productive
The Toronto-based company Alida announced they’re piloting a four-day work week starting July, in a bid to provide more flexibility that their employees requested. Over the next months, the company will prepare for the shift in business operations before the pilot. And when it starts, all employees will be taking their Fridays off as part of the new weekly scheme. According to Alida, their employees' salary and benefits will still be given to them in full.
The company said the shift in July will be a test run to understand how the organisation and its staff will respond to a four-day work week. Its success will be measured on the company's productivity and business results before it can decide if the setup will be made permanent. The company made the announcement after pooling employee feedback using its Voice of Employee technology, where it heard its employees' need for more flexibility in their work.
"The pandemic has been a real trigger for rethinking the world of work. We’ve been listening to our employees over the past year and have heard how they want and need more flexibility to take better care of their mental health," said Ross Wainwright, chief executive officer of Alida, in a statement.
According Wainright, the goal of the programme is to further establish a culture where balanced is maintained with flexibility in trust, in order for employees to be happier and more productive. Hermina Khara, SVP of People and Culture, called the move a "bold step" for Alida, but stressed that it is time for companies to start meeting their employees when it comes to work.
"We believe that our employees can make the best decisions for themselves on how and when they work. We want to give them further opportunity to nurture their mental and physical well-being so they can bring their best selves to work," Khara said.
Read more: The benefits and pitfalls of a 'four-day work week'
Benefits of four-day work weeks
The shift to four-day work weeks across the globe began even before the pandemic emerged, but in a COVID-changed world, employees have begun taking care of their mental health more that pushed the need for better working arrangements.
Among the reported benefits of four-day work weeks include increased work-life balance, less carbon footprint, and better mental wellbeing. However, concerns over inequalities of pay, not all employees being able to enjoy the benefit, and less time to complete the same amount of work also came up.
In Southeast Asia, employees are also concerned about having reduced salaries and making burnout even more plausible with extended working hours. Employers are also concerned on how to manage their team while under the shorter weekly arrangements.
According to Dr. Melanie Peacock, associate professor of HR at Mount Royal, implementing a four-day work week would need an internal assessment if it could be feasible.
"An initial review requires the structure of this offering. Will all employees work the same four days, or will there be staggered days off, or overlapping or core hours on-site during the workdays? What jobs are suitable for this type of arrangement, and which may not be? This requires that a thorough and transparent job analysis for all company roles be conducted," Peacock told HRD.
