Unilever New Zealand will begin a one-year experiment to allow all 81 of its employees to earn their full salaries while working one day fewer per week, a move the company said might actually boost productivity and improve employees’ work-life balance.
The
company, which imports and distributes Lipton tea, Dove soap, Vaseline and Ben
& Jerry’s ice cream, is the latest to experiment with the long-discussed
four-day workweek.
Nick Bangs,
managing director of Unilever New Zealand, said the four-day-week experiment is
a fundamental shift in how the company views its work force.
“Our goal
is to measure performance on output, not time,” Mr. Bangs said. “We believe the
old ways of working are outdated and no longer fit for purpose. The goal is to
get the same amount of work done in fewer hours for the same pay.”
The move to
a four-day workweek has been around for decades. Anyway, in a work-centric
culture, people simply are not wired to unplug from the office, particularly in
industries like finance, medicine and consulting.
Social
changes, like the push to work remotely, might lead to a reformulation of what
success actually requires.
Chris Bailey,
the author of the books “The Productivity Project” and “Hyperfocus” says that producing
40 hours of work in 32 hours takes more than a firm deadline.. The
other ingredients are energy and attention.
As for Mr.
Bangs in New Zealand, he is leading by example.
“Yes, I
will be working a four-day week,” he said. “I have three young children, so I’m
looking forward to spending more time with them, as well as using the extra
time to learn new skills.”
From The New York Times (edited)
