British supermarket chain Sainsbury's has joined the growing list of companies to commence a four-day working week trial in a bid to increase flexibility and evolve its current way of working - a step change we adopted here at thefoodpeople back in April 2021.
The group started testing the new working model at the end of 2022, following a number of other household name retailers, including supermarket competitor Morrisons which was the first of the major UK retailers to introduce the four-day week option back in July 2020. For Sainsbury's, the trial has seen employees at its Holborn, Coventry and Milton Keynes head quarters, as well as warehouse workers and store managers across its 1,400 shops, given the option to work their 37.5 hour weekly contracts across the seven day week.
The world's largest four-day working week trial has been underway for several months now, with the Guardian recently reporting that 56 of the initial 61 companies have extended the trial, while 18 have made the change permanent. The Guardian also reported that in total, about 2,900 employees across the UK have so far taken part in the pilot. Surveys of staff taken before and after found that 39% reported being less stressed, 40% said that the change had led to better sleep, while 54% of participants commented that it was easier to balance work and home responsibilities as part of a four day week.
We're definite advocates of the four-day week here at thefoodpeople having adopted this way of working two years ago now with success and hugely positive feedback. We've always prided ourselves in being a forward-thinking company, originally establishing as a virtual business back in 2005. We felt it was time to future proof ourselves and re-think our ways of working once again, following the lead of some of the world's most progressive businesses and academic research which suggests benefits for both employees and business.
Find out more about the decisions behind our change here.