After closing its offices every Friday in May 2019, UK recruitment firm, MRL Consulting Group, saw an incredible 95% staff retention rate, productivity levels increased by one-quarter (25%) and improvements in employees’ health.Â
87% of employees reported improvement in their mental health and reduction in workplace stress, and a further 95% said that they feel more rested after having a three-day weekend. Short-term absence has also been reduced by almost 40%.
The six-month trial for all employees has now been implemented as a permanent fixture within the company due to the huge success, and they want other businesses to follow their lead.
David Stone, chief executive officer at MRL, said “We are driven by results, rather than the amount of time people spend at their desks. I trusted my staff to have enough self-motivation and discipline to be able to manage their time to fit five days of work into four. The results generated during the six-month trial have led us to implement a four-day week working model permanently.”Â
Kelly Robertson, operations director at MRL, added “During the trial, and since implementing the four-day working week, everyone has ramped up their activity, and people feel a lot more prepared for the week ahead after having three days to rest at the weekend. Now, the team has more time to spend on themselves, on their mental and physical health and with their families and you can see the difference in the mood in the office.
“I can’t think of any reason why other businesses wouldn’t want to invest in its employees’ wellbeing, as there are so many positive outcomes. If you’re an output-based organisation and you are realistic about what you want your team to achieve in the given timeframe, there’s no reason you can’t have a four-day week.”
Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.