Should the UK adopt a 4 day working week ?

confused31_2

where i work they are going on a 4 day week, ive been laid off since october on 80% pay, and it looks like its going to be extended till at least June, which i think i am going to take up.

Im one of the lucky ones where i work, has i have never over stretched myself , but some of the workers have lost shift money over 100 pound a week and are now going to be on short time, which i think will cause a lot of trouble for them financially.

Its what people get used to and if they are prepared, and there is enough work for them to do 5 or even 7 days then they should be able to work it, i dont think people should be put on a short week to create more jobs for the people who havent got jobs.

It sounds a bit selfish but why should someone give up some of their income so someone else can have a job.

Having said that if it keeps the company still operating and not closing down by going on a 4 day week in the short term i think its better than people losing their jobs.


Even better why dont we pay everyone the same wage each week, and all work 4 days a week, i dont think anyone would mind that.;)

robin_banks

Best way for companies to save money is make the less well performing staff redundant not across the board cuts.

tirano

Who decided on a 5 day working week, 2 day weekend ?

Presumably it was during the Industrial Revolution when most people worked 6 days, all I am saying is , given the current circumstances, is now an opportune time to move to a 4 day week. I would include Schools, Local Authorities etc into this and not just companies.

BenL

4 day week, bring the average wage down, amount you can borrow on lending multiples down, house prices down faster.

Lets get on with it!

I could spend an extra day out walking in the hills or windsurfing etc

Really2

BenL wrote: »

4 day week, bring the average wage down, amount you can borrow on lending multiples down, house prices down faster.

Lets get on with it!

Also stop people saving money too.:eek:

So making thoughs who do not own a property less likley to get one.

[Deleted User]

tirano wrote: »

Your firms employees would work a 4 day week, nothing to stop the Company working a 7 day week, they would take on more staff and reduce overall unemployment

Sorry to break it to you, but employees cost more than just their salary. If we increased our staff (currently 600) by 150 to fit in with your 4 day week concept, we'd not stay in financial equilibrium. There are training costs, computer hardware (everyone gets a laptop) costs, greater admin costs - all for no extra financial gain.

Stupid, stupid, stupid idea

tirano

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Sorry to break it to you, but employees cost more than just their salary. If we increased our staff (currently 600) by 150 to fit in with your 4 day week concept, we'd not stay in financial equilibrium. There are training costs, computer hardware (everyone gets a laptop) costs, greater admin costs - all for no extra financial gain.

Stupid, stupid, stupid idea

If they all have laptops then it sounds as though they are non-manual employees, in which case you would probably find only a very small or zero productivity loss from moving from 5 days to 4 days.

Really2

tirano wrote: »

If they all have laptops then it sounds as though they are non-manual employees, in which case you would probably find only a very small or zero productivity loss from moving from 5 days to 4 days.

Really? Perhaps your job is not very demanding I could not do mine in 4 days.
In reality a day less makes a company 20% less productive.

If a company could operate with 20% less staff they would so it does not make sense a company could operate in 20% less time as they would have already cut that 20% waste out.

whathavewedone

I'd have thanked that post twice if I could. You put what I was trying to say a lot more succinctly.

stevetodd

tirano wrote: »

If they all have laptops then it sounds as though they are non-manual employees, in which case you would probably find only a very small or zero productivity loss from moving from 5 days to 4 days.

What school did you not go to? the school I went to taught me 5-4=1 (not zero)