A Welsh employer has announced it is implementing a four-day working week for its staff as it wants to prioritise their health and wellbeing and continue to build its "positive and inclusive workplace culture". Camlas, based in Cardiff, said it was Wales' first public affairs company to introduce a four-day week, and hoped the new way of working would help staff keep a successful "work-life balance" and thrive "both professionally and personally".
A spokesperson for the company said it had seen the results of four-day working week trials undertaken at other companies across the UK and realised that having a reduced working week "significantly boosted employee morale" and increased their productivity and job satisfaction, but decreased employees' stress levels.
They added that the company's move to a four-day working week was just one of a range of employee benefits which helped promote employee wellbeing, including things like flexible working arrangements, mental health support and ongoing training and development opportunities. You can get more local news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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Managing partner of Camlas, Naomi Williams explained: "We recognise that our staff are our most valuable asset, and we believe that by introducing a four-day work week, we can create a healthier and more sustainable work environment for them. This decision will not only benefit our employees but also our clients, as our team will be more focused, refreshed, and productive."
Camlas's move to a four-day week comes after Mark Hooper from the '4 Day Week Cymru' campaign organised a petition calling for the Welsh Government to trial a four-day working week in the devolved Welsh public sector.
The Petitions Committee subsequently looked at the idea in more detail and recommended that the Welsh Government conducted pilots within the devolved public sector to reduce working hours with no loss of earnings for employees.
Commenting on Camlas's decision, Mr Hooper said: "This is fantastic news and shows a real commitment to the wellbeing of colleagues across Camlas's business. Leadership in sectors such as public affairs is key in order to change our collective attitude to work."
In February this year it was revealed that businesses that had adopted a four-day working week for all staff had said they were more productive and profitable, and hailed a healthier and happier workforce.
The world’s biggest trial of a four-day working week was deemed a success by researchers, as the vast majority of companies involved said they would continue to adopt a shorter week after the pilot ended. Some 61 companies took part in the pilot scheme, ranging from charities and financial services firms to retailers and a fish and chip shop.
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