Power to the Workers? A qualitative study of workers' experiences of a 4-day working week

The pandemic has resulted in seismic shifts to all aspects of our lives, including views concerning the organisation of work. One impact is the acceleration of workers questioning traditional life stages, of work then retirement, and what they want out of life (Cable & Gratton, 2022) As quality of life is acknowledged as a driving force for many employees leaving their current jobs (Fuller & Kerr, 2022), the implications of a four-day working week are currently being investigated (Miller, 2022). Drawing on a small-scale study at an automotive supplier, based in the North-East of England, this case study will present findings from qualitative interviews conducted with employees who are experiencing a newly established 4-day working week. From the findings presented, discussions will highlight implications of this shift in the organisation of the working week for employees across the organisation. It is intended that the findings and discussions will raise relevant, contemporary questions for the business community more generally.