76% of working UK professionals have stated that the current 40-hour full-time workweek does not suit them.
The new research comes from the talent solutions firm Robert Walters. The current work model is being viewed as no longer representative of modern approaches to productivity and engagement.
“The conventional 40-hour workweek which has remained largely unchanged for over a century, is now facing an uncertain future. This highlights a growing discontentment that employers must urgently acknowledge and work to rectify.” commented Lucy Bisset, director of Robert Walters North.
Just over half (51%) of research respondent believe that switching to the four-day workweek model, or just even having more work flexibility (38%) could answer those productivity and engagement issues.
The UK currently sits the lowest (10%) on the global rate of employee engagement.
When asked about the option of a longer workweek, over a quarter (28%) of UK employers stated they’d think about increasing the hours of their existing week if it would boost productivity and business performance. This is in stark contrast to 82% of professionals, who confirmed they would leave if their employer decided to extend the workweek.
“The key thing for employers to do now is to test out what works best for their employees in a way which means everyone can maximise their week, without missing out on valuable hours of work.” Bisset concludes.