Paisley charity embarks on new four-day working week with staff losing no pay

A Renfrewshire charity has announced it will be moving to a four day-working week with staff losing no pay.

Kairos Women+ at the town’s Abbey Mill Business Centre feels the move to a shorter working week will make a “big difference” to staff.

The charity’s nine employees all moved to a four-day, 32-hour arrangement with no reduction in pay earlier this year.

READ MORE: Paisley sex beast was ‘persistent, predatory and targeted' as he gets jail term

READ MORE: Paisley man who crashed car after drinking in casino narrowly avoids jail

The company has been accredited as a ‘Gold Standard’ four-day week employer under the 4 Day Week Campaign’s accreditation scheme that officially recognises permanent four-day week employers in the UK.

Kairos Women+ is a community-led women’s organisation that runs a women’s hub based in Paisley. Since the covid pandemic, a four-day week has become more popular and is now being tested and implemented across the world.

A number of studies have shown that moving to a four-day week boosts productivity and workers’ wellbeing.

Earlier this year, new research showed that at least 54 of the 61 companies that took part in a six-month pilot in the UK in 2022 have maintained the four-day week a year-and-a-half later.

Digital challenger bank, Atom Bank, are the biggest UK four-day week employer with over 500 staff.

Katy Wilson-Scott, senior coordinator of Kairos Women+, said: “We are delighted to support the wellbeing of our staff through a reduction in full time hours from 35 to 32 per week. This small change has made a big difference.

“It’s a huge boost to have more time to spend with friends and family, or simply time to focus on the things we love to do. That might be hobbies, wellbeing activities or more time to relax with a cuppa.”

Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, added that – by making the move to a four-day week – it is a win-win for employers and employees

“Congratulations to Kairos Women+ for becoming a four-day week employer,” they said.

“With 50 per cent more free time, moving to a four-day week gives workers the freedom to be able to live a happier and better life. As hundreds of British companies and one local council have already shown, a four-day week with no loss of pay can be a win-win for both workers and employers.

“The 9-5, five-day working week was invented 100 years ago and is no longer fit for purpose. We are long overdue an update.”

Don't miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here