Nobody would turn down a four-day week – but it could see Ireland falling behind our European neighbours, Ciara Kelly has warned.
She was speaking after a new study found the four-day week to be a “resounding success” at Irish companies.
Twelve companies trialled the four-day week for the UCD study - and found that productivity levels increased, with gains in life satisfaction, work-life balance and general well-being.
The companies also recorded falls in stress, burnout and negative feelings amongst their staff.
All 12 companies now plan to continue with the four-day week.
Newstalk Breakfast presenter Ciara Kelly said she has mixed feelings about the idea.
“I’m not disputing any of the facts or the results,” she said. “But part of me fears that we will make ourselves in Europe very uncompetitive and we will become a society in decline.
“Having said that, I love the idea of it and if somebody would give me one, I would take it with both hands.”
Four-day
Her fellow presenter Shane Coleman said he worked a four-day week in his previous career at the Sunday Tribune.
“It was a different thing in that your work is aimed towards the end of the week,” he said. “Towards producing for the end of the week.
“I definitely worked a bit harder the other days and I don’t think my productivity dropped.”
Work
He warned that not all jobs are a swell suited to the four-day week – but questioned whether people were raising the same concerns when we introduced the five-day week.
Ciara agreed saying: “Giving people leisure time at all was considered madness at one stage”.
“We’re moving in this direction,” she said.
“Public sector hours have shrunk; European working times have shrunk. That has all changed.
“Who wouldn’t want a four-day working week? It is very appealing.”
