Health and wellbeing charity Rise has extended its trail of a four-day working week, saying it has boosted staff wellbeing without impacting productivity.
Employees at the Royal Quays-based organisation trialled the Monday-Thursday work pattern between June and December last year with partners for whom Rise delivers work providing a rise in net promoter score to +80, up slightly from a target figure of +78. All staff were said to be in favour of the move.
Rise has adopted the model, which sees staff deliver 100% of their work in 80% of their contracted hours for 100% of their pay, for a further six months until June so that it can review a full financial year before making a permanent decision. Workers have citied various benefits including better work-life balance, visiting family and friends and time to pursue personal development.
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Clare Morley, the charity’s chief executive, said: “At Rise we are always looking for innovative ways to lead from the front in protecting and enhancing physical and mental health, both for our staff and for the wider population. We recognise that the wellbeing of our team is integral to us achieving our mission of improving lives through physical activity.
"We’re pleased with the results of the trial so far – the people we work with are very satisfied with our service and our staff have reported a good work-life balance. It’s been important to ensure that our productivity stays the same, which is why we’ve extended the trial - to ensure that this new way of working works for everyone. The recent survey results show that our staff have maintained a consistent level of high-quality work over four days instead of five, which is testament to their hard work and dedication.”
Liliana Ciaraolo, development officer at Rise, said: "The four-day week has contributed to my physical wellbeing. I train in Olympic Weightlifting four times a week and having that day off gives me a chance to recover, and make sure I'm well-rested for my next training session. I’m training hard for a competition in May. Alongside work, training is a big part of my life – but I now have one day a week where I know I can rest and rejuvenate because I have no work or training."
Louise Wallace, a development manager - children and young people at the charity, said: “It helps my work-life balance and means that I get to spend more time with my family. I have two children, including a two-year-old daughter and this means I get to spend time with her, as well as doing the school run with a lot less stress. I also save £200 a month in childcare costs. It’s definitely helped reduce the ‘mum-guilt’! Working and being present for your kids often comes into conflict but working at Rise gives me flexibility. It really has been a breath of fresh air – we get a bank holiday every week!”