A BIG high street store is offering its staff a four-day week.
Dunelm is the latest retailer to offer employees flexible working hours.
Dunelm will trial the scheme first before offering it out furtherGetty
Some of Dunelm’s staff will be given the option to work four days as it trials a new hybrid working model.
It is testing different four-day working patterns in selected departments.
Should this go well, it might expand the initiative over more stores – has has 170 stores across the UK.
We’ve asked Dunelm what stores are currently trialling the scheme and when it may expand to all if successful.
A spokesperson for Dunelm said: “We are conducting a limited trial allowing colleagues within selected teams within our store support centre to work their current contracted hours across a compressed number of days, before progressing further.”
Dunelm isn’t the only company trialling a four-day week.
Most recently, Sainsbury’s shook up working patterns after the pandemic.
The supermarket giant said it has been looking at ways to make its work schedules more flexible and better for employees.
It said that while it not trialling a formal four-day week, some staff may end up working a shorter week as a result.
The shake-ups come as 18 UK companies announced they have made the switch to a shorter working week permanent following a “landmark” trial.
The trial saw 61 companies across a variety of sectors in the UK commit to reducing their working hours for all staff by 20%, for six months from June last year.
The results revealed a significant drop in the rates of stress and illness among the approximately 2,900 staff trying a shorter working week.
Which companies have made the four day week permanent?
Here’s a list of the UK firms who took part in the trial and decided to make it permanent:
HutchTyler GrangeWe Are PurposefulInfigoRoyal Society of BiologyHappy5 SquirrelsUnity MarketingTrio MediaAscendancyTBL ServicesFrame 25Rivelin RoboticsLiteral Humans
There are another three which have also made the move permanent but they have not been named publicly.
Which companies were already on a four day week?
Here’s a list of the UK firms offering a four day week on full pay:
3D Issue – printing software firm in DonegalAdvice Direct Scotland – non-profit in GlasgowAtom Bank – finance firm in DurhamAutonomy – think tank researching the future of workAwin – consultancy firmBig Potato Games – board games maker in East LondonBlink – Norwich e-commerce firmCanon – Edinburgh-based UK arm of the global camera giantCMG Technologies – Suffolk 3D metal moulding firmCauseway Irish Housing Association – London non-profitCharlton Norris – recruitment firm in LeedsCrystallised – Newcastle marketing agencyEarth Science Partnership – research group in CardiffElektra Lighting – London lighting consultantsEvolved – online marketing specialists in the North EastFlocc – Cambridge and London-based marketing agencyGeeks For Social Change – Manchester software developersGracefruit – Glasgow cosmetics firmThe Landmark Hotel London – upmarket hotel in MaryleboneLegacy Events – management agency in OxfordMRL – Brighton recruiters specialising in tech and financePeople and Transformational HR – Nortants design and marketing consultancyPunch Creative – boutique digital marketing agency in LeedsReboot – Hertfordshire ad agencyResiliance Brokers – climate finance firm based in LondonReward Agency – Manchester ad agencyStop Aids – London HIV charitySinister Fish Games – Lincoln-based board game makersSocial Enterprise Direct – Glasgow finance firmSofter Success – consultancy and training provider in LondonStreamGo – Sunderland-based indie events platformT-Cup Studios – Bath boutique consultancyTarget Publishing – Essex indie publishersTechnovent – high-tech medical services supplier in South WalesThe Circle – hub for charities and non-profits in DundeeThe UPAC group – Glasgow packing firmVenture Stream – Newcastle marketing agencyYWCA Scotland – young women’s movement based in Glasgow
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