Staff at a fish and chip shop trialling a four-day working week say they can spend more time with their families - all on full pay.
Around 70 UK companies employing 3,300 workers begin working a four-day week with no loss of pay today (June 6) in the biggest ever pilot of the scheme.
The idea is that staff work 80% of their normal weekly hours, get 100% of the pay and keep 100% productivity.
One of the firms taking part is Plattens Fish and Chips in Wells-Next-The-Sea, North Norfolk.
Staff at the chip shop say they are excited about taking part in the pilot.
Instead of a three-day weekend, staff are going to be rotating their shifts, with two days on followed by two days off.
General manager Kirsty Wainwright, 34, is already working a four-day week.
Kirsty has been working in the hospitality industry for 17 years and is a mother of two children.
She said: “The option of working a four-day week was the main reason for choosing to work here.
“The hospitality industry has really unsociable working hours and it needs to change. It's not surprising the industry has been struggling with recruitment given the excessively long working hours.
“On a five-day week I didn't get to see my kids enough. Spending more time with my kids is the best thing about a four-day week. It's amazing. Having that extra rest and not feeling exhausted means I can be more productive at work too.”
Wyatt Watts, 25, a team leader at Platten's, enjoys exercising at the gym and playing football but feels a five day working week leaves him very tired and without enough time to exercise.
He says working in the hospitality industry can be “very strenuous.”
“When I first heard we were going to be working less hours with the same pay I thought to myself what's the catch, it sounds too good to be true,” Wyatt said.
“I'm hoping it's going to allow me to have more time for personal development, socialising with friends and going to the gym.
Usually I'm so exhausted from work I don't have the energy so hopefully having that extra time to rest will boost my energy levels.
“The impact of making the decision to take part in the pilot has already had an extremely positive impact on the team. Morale has improved and we're hoping that our productivity at work is going to be higher, meaning that stuff can get done quicker.
“Having a four-day week has left me feeling a lot more positive about staying and working in the industry.”
The pilot is running for six months and is being organised by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with think tank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week UK Campaign, and researchers at Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College.
Government backed four-day week trials are also due to begin later this year in Scotland.
Joe O Connor, chief executive of 4 Day Week Global, said: “As we emerge from the pandemic, more and more companies are recognising that the new frontier for competition is quality of life, and that reduced-hour, output-focused working is the vehicle to give them a competitive edge."
