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Employers should be wary of how these evolving expectations of workers can impact company culture and business relations.
According to a recent global poll by Robert Walters, almost half of professionals (46%) have stated that they would be willing to give up work socials and relationships with colleagues, in favour of a four-day workweek.
The poll surveyed 2,000 working professionals, and highlighted the cons of the four-day workweek to employers, with office relationships playing a significant role.
Recently, workplaces have just begun to show a shift in working arrangements, allowing employees to see more faces in the office. With this change, increases in energy levels, collaboration, creativity, and productivity have been observed, according to the poll. However, such workplace cultures and relationships could be inhibited by the implementation of the four-day work week, it added.
From the study, a majority of professionals (89%) would be keen for their employer to implement a four-day week. In fact, a four-day workweek now tops the poll as one of the most desirable 'perks' when applying for a job, with 44% stating that this would appeal to them most on a job description, followed by the ability to work from anywhere (38%). This sentiment is further supported by the fact that merely 16% of professionals stated that they would take a 10-15% pay increase over the option of a four-day workweek.
Additionally, only 2% state that they would pick office-based perks such as work socials or complimentary meals over a four-y workweek.
Such popularity in flexible working arrangements have been on the rise following the end of the pandemic, as restrictions had brought the experience of working from home to the workforce, and many multinationals have introduced a shorter working week or reduced working hours. It has been noted that the post-pandemic workforce could be named "the most entitled yet' as more that half of professionals who would like a four-day week expect their full pay to remain the same, with fewer professionals feeling responsible for the financial health or stability of their employer.
John Mullally, Managing Director, Robert Walters Hong Kong, explained that some companies had tested a 4.5-day workweek, while some implemented an 'alternative four-day workweek' or 'summer Friday off' arrangement. However, the potential long-term impacts of these arrangements are difficult to predict, he shared. As such, he noted that companies should be mindful that poor company culture could be a trade off for such perks.
"We believe that workplaces should be held accountable for their employees' wellbeing, but we also recognise that professionals have the responsibility to contribute to the success of a business, especially in this current period of economic uncertainty", he said.
Lead image / Shutterstock
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