The boss of a company in Wigan where staff only work four days a week claims they’re “more productive” than they were before.
Belmont Packaging and its e-commerce sister business, Boxed-Up – which are based in the Hindley Green area of Wigan, and specialise in plain and printed corrugated cardboard – first began trialling the four-day week within its manufacturing department back in late 2019, with the aim of giving staff more time to focus on “themselves, their mental health and their loved ones”.
After the trial was deemed to be a “roaring success”, the company then decided to switch up the rotas and introduce the four-day week permanently in 2021.
This means that the 30+ staff at the company now only work four 10-hour days a week.
The company’s owner, Kate Hulley, admitted that there was initially “huge suspicion” from her employees back when the four-day work week trial first started, with many expressing concerns about how it would actually work, but it soon proved to be successful.
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Ms Hulley told the BBC that the new working schedule has not only given staff “more quality time with family”, but has even made them “more productive” overall than their previous way of working.
“Staff have been able to spend more quality time with their families,” Ms Hulley explained, “and they’re ready to start back on Monday after a three-day weekend.”
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One of the workers at the company’s Hindley Green site, Stacey Galloway, has also hailed the four-day work week for allowing her to get on top of all her life admin and housework, explaining to the BBC: “Before we went to the four day week, my weekends were spent washing, cooking cleaning, ironing.
“But now, on a Friday I can do all that while the kids are at school.”
Kate Hulley, the owner of Belmont Packaging / Credit: Belmont Packaging
News that Belmont Packaging’s working schedule is still proving successful comes after it was revealed earlier this year that 91% of the UK companies that took part in the world’s largest four-day work pilot said they would continue with it now the trial has ended.
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The groundbreaking trial involved more than 60 companies and 3,300 workers spanning a variety of industries.
Staff taking part in the trial were given 100% of their pay for 80% of their time on the understanding that they maintain maximum productivity over the four days.
Featured Image – Belmont Packaging
Business
Pubs can extend their opening hours if England make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals
Emily Sergeant
Pubs are to be permitted to extend their opening hours if England make it through to the semi-finals of EURO 2024 this summer.
With the Premier League, and the English and Scottish football leagues, all drawing to a close over the next couple of weeks, our nations are already looking ahead to what is gearing up to be a massive summer of sport – with both the UEFA EURO 2024, and the 2024 Olympics coming up before August is out.
And now, it’s been revealed by Home Secretary James Cleverly that if either England or Scotland’s mens national football teams make it to the semi-final of European football’s flagship tournament, then pubs will be allowed to stay open for longer.
But, there’s a bit of a catch… because isn’t there always?
The Government has said that venues will be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours on match days if either or both teams reach the last four or the final of the competition, but this only applies to pubs that already have a license to open until 11pm anyway.
Pubs can extend their opening hours if England make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals / Credit: Piqsels | Wikimedia Commons
The move to extend opening hours comes after a consultation at the end of last year, and is hoped to provide a boost to the hospitality industry – which has notably been hit hard during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The Home Secretaries in England and Wales, under Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003, can make an order relaxing licensing hours to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, but the Scottish and Northern Irish Governments have to set their own rules.
“We have listened to the public through our consultation,” explained Home Secretary James Cleverley, “and we will be extending pub licensing hours should England or Scotland reach the semi-finals or final of Euro 2024.”
The EURO 2024 semi-finals are to be held on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 July / Credit: UEFA
Mr Cleverley said the move will “allow friends, families and communities to come together for longer to watch their nation hopefully bring it home”.
This legislation is set to be laid in Parliament today (Wednesday 8 May) to ensure there is enough time for it to be debated and passed before the tournament begins on Friday 14 June, the Government has confirmed.
WeWork is closing its enormous office in Spinningfields, with tenants told to move out
Daisy Jackson
Co-working giant WeWork has announced the shock closure of its flagship space in Manchester, an enormous unit in the heart of Spinningfields.
Those who rent desks or offices within the space have been served notice to move out by the end of the month.
It’s understood that WeWork’s three remaining locations in Manchester are unaffected.
The US-based workspace company first moved into the 60,000sq ft unit at No.1 Spinningfields in 2017, offering flexible solutions to businesses of varying sizes.
But in the last few years it’s faced major financial difficulties, with WeWork eventually filing for bankruptcy in the States.
It was previously valued at $47 billion before its bankruptcy overseas.
On the closure of its huge Manchester office, a WeWork spokesperson said: “As part of WeWork’s efforts to achieve a sustainable capital structure and profitable business to serve our members for the long term, we have made the decision to stop operating at No1 Spinningfields in Manchester.
“We look forward to continuing to provide our members with flexible space solutions across our other locations in the city and the rest of the UK, which remains a key market for us.”
An email sent to tenants said: “After carefully evaluating our offerings in Manchester, we have made the decision to stop operating at WeWork No 1 Spinningfields… the move out will occur by 31 May 2024.
“We understand this may cause disruption to your business and are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Have you been affected by WeWork’s Manchester closure? Email [email protected] who can help with central, flexible office spaces.