Brazil will begin testing the possibility of a four-day work week in November, after three months of meetings with potentially interested companies.
The model – already tested in the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, Australia and other countries – will be implemented through an alliance between the consultancy Reconnect Happiness and the organization 4 Day Week Global.
4 Day Week Global is a non-profit community established by Andrew Barnes and Charlotte Lockhart to provide a platform for people who are interested in supporting the idea of the four-day week as part of the future of work.
On its site, 4 Day explains that this idea "was born out of the waves of attention we received from around the world in reaction to our successful program launched at Perpetual Guardian in 2018."
The project argues that, with the "redesign" of the working week, it is possible to enhance the quality of life of employees. Photo: archive
Brazil
The project argues that, with the "redesign" of the working week, it is possible to enhance the quality of life of employees and, at the same time, increase the productivity of companies.
"The idea of the pilot project is for employees to reorganize their work so that they are more productive in less time," Reconnect founder Renata Rivetti told CNN Brazil.
Rivetti, a specialist in corporate happiness, explained to CNN Brazil the step by step of the work experiment that will be carried out in Brazil.
The preparation of the project in Brazil will begin between June and July. Photo: Reuters
Preparation for its launch will begin between this month and July. Those responsible for the initiative will meet with the companies to detail the pilot project, from methodology to expected results.
300 interested companies
In August, potential participants of the experience begin to be registered. According to Rivetti, the reception of the initiative in Brazil has been positive.
"We had a super positive surprise in Brazil. There are several myths in the country about the exaltation of overwork. But we had more than 300 companies interested in this start. There is a huge acceptance by companies, from micro-entrepreneurs to multinationals with thousands of employees," he told CNN.
The project ends after six months, when the results are measured. Photo: John MacDougal/ AFP
In November, quantitative surveys will be conducted to evaluate the metrics of the companies involved, metrics that will then be compared with the numbers of the experiment, during and at the end.
Only in November, the pilot test will begin. And after three months, data on project performance is collected.
The process comes to an end after six months, when the numbers are measured again.
It's not just eliminating Fridays
Rivetti explained to CNN Brazil that the implementation of the model goes beyond "eliminating Fridays," and refers to a redesign of the employee day.
"It is the commitment of employees to maintain 100% of productivity, receiving 100% of salary, but 80% of the time," he explained.
Experience in other countries
The project has already been tested in several countries around the world. Portugal was the last to apply them, last Monday, with 39 companies and 1000 employees.
The aim of the experience is to encourage companies, employees, researchers and government to "play their part in creating a new way of working that will improve business productivity, health outcomes for workers, families and stronger communities, challenge the issue of gender equality and work towards a more sustainable work environment".
The results of an Australasian pilot program, run by 4 Day Week Global, reveal that the vast majority of companies prefer to work a 4-day week. The six-month 4-day week, which 26 organizations embarked on last August, found that 95% of organizations favor reduced hours.
On a scale of 1 to 10, companies rated the overall test an 8.2, and reported high satisfaction with business productivity, performance and ability to attract employees. They also saw an average 44% reduction in absenteeism and a 9% reduction in resignations over the course of the pilot program.
On a scale of 1 to 10, companies rated the overall test 8.2. Photo: archive
Employee results were equally positive, with 96% wanting to continue with their 4-day week after the experiment.
When asked how much extra pay they would require at their next job to return to five days, more than one in three said 26 to 50 percent more, and more than one in ten said no amount of money would induce them to return.
Promising findings on gender equality and the environment were also observed, with travel time reduced to 36 minutes per person per week, and men in heterosexual relationships increasing their share of housework and childcare.
Clarín editorial office with information from ANSA, CNN Brasil and 4dayweek.com
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