British people work some of the longest hours in Europe, but are among the least productive. Now some companies are shortening the working week to increase efficiency, health and happiness.
Rich Leigh has introduced a four-day week at his PR company. In fact, his company has Friday off, because his firm has taken a four-day week. It is one of a handful of UK businesses that now operate like this: workers still get paid the same as their five-day salary, but they work a day less. The company found that they achieved just as much—and there were even signs of growth. "The key to the scheme's success," Leigh says, "is how happy our employees now are."
The average British worker takes only a 34 minute lunch break and works 10 hours overtime each week (more often than not this is unpaid). Yet UK productivity falls seriously behind their European neighbors, who tend to work fewer hours.
British working practices have caused loss and damage to the nation's health and happiness. More than half a million workers in the UK quit jobs with work-related stress or anxiety last year. Moreover, the working conditions are changing. Automation (自动化) and AI will have a significant impact on the labor market, where it's a struggle to have regular work.
Britain is the only EU member that allows workers to ignore the EU working time limit and work longer hours. Now it is the time for a change. O'Grady, an advocate, argues that where businesses have increased their profits as a result of automation, success should be shared with workers in the form of reduced hours. "It's time to share the benefits from new technology, not allowing those at the top to enjoy the benefits by themselves." she says.
