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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Rosaleen Fenton

'Four-day working week with same pay transformed our worker's lives' says UK firm

One of Britain's biggest digital banks has told of the huge benefits after moving most of its 430 staff to a four-day week - with no cut to their salary.

Atom Bank is believed to be one of the biggest British companies to make the switch - and say it has worked immensely well for them.

The company made the move last November and says it hasn't recorded any negative impact on its customer service offering or operations.

It also has seen a 500 per cent increase in applications for open roles- showing the appetite for reduced work hours.

On Jan 16, 30 British firms started a pilot where workers will trial a four-day week for six months, prompting home it will become more widespread.

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Now the bank has urged more UK employers to make the switch - and says a cut from 37.5 to 34 hours a week improved its productivity.

The company also says that workers are also reporting less stress and look forward to work each day.

Anne-Marie Lister, Chief People Officer at Atom, said: "Our adoption of a four-day working week has been a huge success, and we are proud of how well our employees have adapted, continuing to offer the excellent level of customer service that Atom is known for.

"We firmly believe that a four-day week is the future of work for many."

The company, based in Durham, offers savings and mortgage products to consumers and small businesses and is a smartphone-accessed bank.

Last year, Atom chief executive Mark Mullen, 59, said that the five-day week was becoming "as unnecessary as permanent office working and the daily commute has proved to be for many people."

The entrepreneur said the four-day week will "provide our employees with more opportunities to pursue their passions, spend time with their families, and build a healthier work/life balance."

He added: "Since March 2020, Atom, along with almost all workplaces around the world, has had to adapt rapidly to new ways of working.

"Our experience has exploded many of the myths of the modern workplace. It has happened at a time when we all need to become more aware of the impact of work on both our mental and physical wellbeing.

"We now know that many jobs can be done as efficiently and productively from peoples’ own homes as from the office. But why stop there? More can be done - more needs to change."

Should all employers offer condensed hours? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below

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