New research shows that 78% of employees want a four-day workweek and 200 firms have signed up to permanently keep a four-day work week, highlighting the demand for a new schedule. In industries like PR, communications, and marketing, work often involves being ‘on-call’ and available for client requests. While these businesses have other tangible and measurable metrics, client service is still a core part of their offering. As such, shifting from a five-day week to a four-day week seems challenging at best.
The survey by Startups.com reveals the popularity of a four-day workweek while a study by Hubble HQ has shown that 42% of employees would actually like the option to work abroad. With so much demand for greater flexibility, how can on-call businesses keep up?
PR agency, Lem-uhn has implemented both a flexible Friday policy and a work-from-anywhere policy. The flexible Friday policy gives employees the option to adjust their schedules, either by working extended hours earlier in the week or choosing a condensed workday on Fridays. For many, this can mean taking a half day or even a full day off, while ensuring that business operations continue smoothly. With proper planning, employees can enjoy a four-day work week, while a rotating system ensures that teams are always available to meet clients’ needs.
The work-from-anywhere policy allows employees to work abroad for up to 45 days annually in countries that have a dual taxation scheme. Employees are expected to be available during core hours, with many choosing destinations in Europe to stay within a similar time zone. Some Lem-uhn employees have utilised the work-from-anywhere scheme by working in Barcelona, Lisbon, Bali and Norway. Others frequently take a half day or even a full day off on Fridays.
Becky Stead, account manager at Lem-uhn, said: “Being able to take Fridays off, when needed, has been a life changer for me. I recently got engaged and taking Fridays meant I could schedule venue visits, meetings with suppliers, and trying on potential wedding dresses without having to use holiday time due to weekdays being the only time these can often be done. I also sadly lost my brother suddenly in December of 2022, and I often host charity events to help raise money for heart screenings. Being able to have a Friday off work has allowed me to host more of these events or take the time to plan them.”
Despite increasing flexibility, the agency has seen its revenue increase. Riannon Palmer, left, founder of Lem-uhn said: “We’ve proven that flexibility doesn’t mean sacrificing service or revenue. It does take some work though. We wanted to offer a work-from-anywhere policy sooner however, due to tax implications and insurance, it took us two years before we could introduce it. We pay more for our insurance to make it possible but it’s worth it.
“Flexible Fridays have allowed our team to take time for themselves while ensuring that our clients always have someone to turn to and our work-from-anywhere policy has allowed staff to see family, and friends and explore new places. These policies have made my team happier, and happier people tend to produce better work.”