Friday’s off? G10-ECO weighs the pros and cons

Feb. 1, 2013 - PRLog -- www.g10-eco.com

Today’s news release has explained how in the public sector of Gambia, worker’s will now work a four day week. Worker’s will still work 40 hours between Monday and Thursday, but now get a 3 day weekend. Is this a revolutionary idea for Britain’s workers? Or just totally insane? G10-ECO weighs the pros and cons.

Gambia has now shortened their working week, going against the typical 9-5 that Britain and most parts of the world are used to, and now workers start at 8am and finish at 6pm from Monday through to Thursday. This allows them to have Friday off and a three day weekend. “I’m not too sure how I feel about it really, a three day weekend obviously would sound appealing to anyone, but on the other hand, not everyone will be able to work consistently hard for longer hours” Says Jade Kloe of G10-ECO’s Canary Wharf branch. President Jammeh made the decision to allow Gambians to “devote more time to prayers, social activities and agriculture”. Could the UK adopt the luxury of a three day weekend? Or would it end in disaster?

“It is a great way to maximise your time I suppose, if you can get everything that is normally done complete in four days instead of five, then it’s great” Says the Managing Director of G10-ECO, Michael Ashaye. Gambia is not the only place to work 4 day weeks, the Netherlands are also huge fans of the idea, as many work part time or the ’40 hour – 4 day’, and many companies, through choice of their own work 8am until 6pm Monday to Thursday. Those that are using the system already, all agree it is the way forward. Many claiming that when workers arrive on Monday morning they are full of energy, and with tighter deadlines because of less days in the week, workers seem to put in more effort. “It leaves them time spend with family and friends, as well as working from home on a Friday to get ahead, and to relax more and be more energetic through the week.

Not everyone agrees, the 4 day week has been tried and tested at many companies and states, particularly in America, however other than the odd few, all have failed and reverted back to the typical 9-5 Monday to Friday Week. “If you can maximise your time effectively, and work as hard as you would normally, it is great. But the typical worker in the UK would not have the energy to work in the public sector doing the 4 day weeks”, says Michael Ashaye Managing Director of G10-ECO. “I have always been a person of strong work ethic, and I know that most companies are, with G10-ECO being based in Canary Wharf, I don’t see ourselves or other companies around us jumping on this bandwagon”.

It is clear to say opinions are divided, many younger companies would jump at the chance to have a three day weekend, it allows extra time to socialise and the usual ‘Friday night’ can start hours earlier. With studies showing no real evidence that productivity is higher over a four day period compared to five, the only way to decide is by personal opinion. “For some it may work, but for a fast growing company like ours, and new clients coming in left right and centre, we need all the days we can get” says Jade Kloe of the Canary Wharf branch and G10-ECO.

An extra-long weekend  or an earlier night? Either way you work the same hours. What would you chose?

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