As more UK companies consider switching to four-day work weeks, PBC Today investigates what the potential impact could be on the construction industry
Of the 61 UK organisations that took part in the world’s biggest pilot of the four-day work week in 2022, 89% were still operating the policy a year later and over half had made the policy permanent.
As the conversation about a four-day work week gains traction in the UK, the construction industry will naturally wonder how it could impact business, both in the positive and negative.
Flexitime versus a four-day work week
As well as the four-day work week, there has been some exploration of more flexible working arrangements in the UK construction industry.
Post-pandemic, working from home has become much more commonplace amongst office-based roles. Of course, many on-site roles cannot be performed from home, so one alternative proposed is flexitime.
A 2019 study of staggered shifts and days off across a range of sites operated by BAM Construct, BAM Nuttall, Skanska UK, and Willmott Dixon found that:
Wellbeing amongst workers rose from 48% to 84%
The percentage of workers regularly exceeding their contracted hours fell from 51% to 34%
The percentage of workers feeling guilty for starting late or finishing early fell from 47% to 33%
While none of the firms involved reported a negative impact on schedules or budgets, the study did also find morale benefits that included improved trust in colleagues working remotely.
The number of on-site workers agreeing that they couldn’t be sure if colleagues working from home were working as hard as they would be on-site fell by 15%.
Kyle Eaton, business bank accounts expert at money.co.uk, outlines some of the potential impacts below:
How could a four-day work week benefit construction businesses?
Increased consumer leisure time: With an extra day off each week, consumers would have more leisure time. This increase in free time opens up opportunities for more frequent visits to shops, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and other cultural venues. People might be tempted to extend their weekends, engaging in activities they wouldn’t otherwise have time for, potentially resulting in more revenue for relevant businesses. However, this will remain entirely dependent on consumer budgets.
Growth in domestic tourism: A four-day workweek could see a rise in short breaks as individuals and families take advantage of the extra day off to explore the UK. This could particularly benefit the hospitality industry in tourist hotspots, driving demand for accommodation, dining, and entertainment options.
Shift in peak times: The traditional peak times for consumer-facing businesses might change, with increased footfall not just limited to weekends but also spread across the additional day off. This could help companies to smooth out demand over the week, potentially leading to better use of resources and more consistent revenue streams.
Challenges in staffing and productivity: Reducing working days could make it difficult to maintain productivity levels for businesses. Industries that rely heavily on daily output may struggle to adjust, but focusing on efficiency and flexible working arrangements could lessen these challenges. Some industries may find that a shorter workweek leads to a more productive workforce, with potential benefits including reduced time off and improved employee satisfaction. Knowledge-based sectors, creative industries, and tech companies, in particular, may benefit from a more rested and motivated workforce.
Opportunities for marketing and promotions: Businesses will need to adapt to changing consumer behaviours. This may involve adjusting marketing strategies, developing new products or services tailored to the extended weekend, and exploring new ways to engage with customers.
Construction businesses must be willing to adapt to maximise benefits
“The move towards a four-day workweek in the UK represents a potential shift in work-life balance that could bring about both opportunities and challenges for businesses,” Kyle added.
“While it presents challenges regarding productivity and staffing, it also offers opportunities for increased consumer engagement and innovation. Businesses that are flexible and willing to adapt to these changes may be better positioned to thrive in this evolving landscape.”
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