Morrisons is introducing a four-day working week

A four-day working week is set to be introduced for staff at Morrisons, impacting 1,500 workers. 

Throughout the coronavirus lockdown there has been a resurgence in the concept of a four-day working week, and Morrison’s has announced it will introduce the idea to part of its business. 

The concept will mean 1,500 workers at Morrisons’ head office will experience a serious shake-up in practices while keeping salaries the same. 

The scheme will see the staff doing nine-hour shifts instead of eight, with a six-hour Saturday shift once a month 

The concept will be launched in the Bradford-based offices on July 27th when staff return after the coronavirus lockdown.

Clare Grainger, people director, said: “These new improvements to our ways of working will enable us to be more flexible and responsive and will make Morrisons a place where more people will want to join and stay.”

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, she added: “We’ve shown over the last few months how we can continue to run our business while many colleagues work from home, enabled by much greater flexibility and digital working. These new ways of working will simplify and speed up our business and improve our competitiveness.”

The new rules will not be applied to shop staff, who tend to work a rota system.

Campaigners for a four-day working week argue it helps create a better work-life balance, and actually also increases productivity as staff feel motivated and refreshed. 

Similarly, there are arguments the increased time off will boost the economy as more people spend time (and money) on leisure facilities. 

The Labour party, when headed by Jeremy Corbyn, flittered with the idea in their election campaign – however it has gained fresh momentum in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.  

A cross-bench group of MPs, including shadow chancellor John McDonnell and the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas, wrote to chancellor Rishi Sunak suggesting a four-day week could boost certain sectors of the economy, while also providing more job opportunities amid rising unemployment.

Their letter read: “Shorter working time has been used throughout history as a way of responding to economic crises,” 

“They were used as a way of reducing unemployment during the Great Depression of the 1930s, which led to the normalisation of the eight-hour day and the 40-hour week.

“A four-day week would bring multiple benefits to society, the environment, our democracy, and our economy (through increased productivity).

“One of the biggest impacts would be better mental health and wellbeing across the board with more time available for socialising, family and community.”

The letter also explained that thee quarters of workers supported the concept. It concluded with: “It’s in no one’s interests to return back to the pressure and stress that people were under before this pandemic.” 

Would you want a four-day working week if it meant working longer hours? Let us know…