The Guardian’s Post

Interesting to see the outcome of this pilot. For most of my career I have worked in an industry that has, traditionally, rewarded long hours and presenteeism. My first boss would ring around the various branches at 18.30 every evening to check who was still 'working'. I later found out he would make these calls from his car on his way home, leading from the front 😁. Thankfully the working world has changed drastically... The adoption of hybrid working has changed the very dynamics of the working week and what it is to be 'at work'. The freedom afforded employees in the days post pandemic has changed the employment landscape - - hybrid working has reduced attrition levels by 33%. - improved job satisfaction in the wake of more flexible working patterns. - increased productivity from employees working remotely and hybrid. Will the adoption of a 4 day week reap similar benefits, for both employee and employer? As we continue to rebalance priorities how will we view our careers? For many, and I'm raising my own hand here, what we do can still be so much of who we are. We are living through an employment revolution and one that has permanently changed the dynamics of the employment relationship. Long may we continue to be innovative and explore ways to improve the how, where and when we work. #flexibleworking #talentinnovation #worklifebalance

"Greece introduces ‘growth-oriented’ six-day working week" - The Guardian Over the years, companies like Scoro and Buffer have implemented 4-day work weeks, but a 6-day work week is shocking. 😱 I checked in with my colleague, who is based in Greece, to verify this news. He confirmed it's true and pointed out that while the decision is supposed to be mutual between employer and employee, the power dynamics often aren't balanced. I also learned today that during the Industrial Revolution, people often worked much longer than 40 hours per week, sometimes up to 12-16 hours a day, six days a week. The 40-hour work week was established in the early 20th century to combat these harsh conditions. HARSH! The Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938 helped set this standard in the US, improving work-life balance and protecting workers' rights. As Greece considers a six-day work week, more people might seek remote work opportunities that allow them to maintain this balance. How do you feel about it? What do you think is going to happen? #remotework

The UK is shifting towards flexible working arrangements and a four-day workweek. This topic is slowly gaining steam in the United States too. What are your thoughts on the idea of a four-day workweek? #workforce #fourdayworkweek #hrcommunity #employmenttrends

Are you or your business, embracing flexible working? You may be aware that the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 received royal assent on 20th July and is due to come into effect next year. This Act and its related legislation is likely to have a significant impact on the world of business and you need to get prepared. We all adopted a flexible working attitude during the pandemic, but that was due to necessity and not because we wanted to be flexible employers. In 2024 however, businesses will need to adopt more flexible ways of working. We await the 'best practice' guidelines and the codes of practice but are you prepared for a flexible working request to be made from day 1 of employment? How about if an employee wanted to make 2 requests, and not 1, in a 12 month period? Policies will need updating, as will previous mindsets and ways of working. Get in touch and we can discuss how you can be ready for the refreshed legislation and make another step to become an employer of choice.

You may have seen that recently, the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill reached royal assent, welcoming the future of enhanced workplace flexibility and a better work-life balance for employees.   Whilst these changes aren't expected to be implemented until around mid-2024, it’s important to ensure that as an employer you’re prepared for these changes. Do you know what the best practice is for you and your employees?   🔍 Read our blog below about the changes that will be imposed, and find out what you need to be thinking about as an employer.   📞If you’re worried about how these changes may affect you or your business, need help with policy drafting or advice on flexible working arrangements, please get in touch for a free initial conversation. Call 0333 888 1360 or contact us via email at hello@bhayanilaw.co.uk   #HR #HumanResources #FlexibleWorking

On a different note, and for my contacts who work for local authorities, this is the government’s guidance to local authorities who are thinking of adopting arrangements for a 4-day working week with full salary! Spoiler Alert: The government advises against such arrangements because they allegedly are against the Best Value Duty that local authorities must adhere to aunder the Local Government Act 1999. Let the debate begin 🤔 #local authorities #four-day working week

Flexible working is still at the top of the list of talked about topics 🗣️ Did you know that in the UK, staff can now make flexible working requests from day one of employment? There's a lot of talk about how flexible working benefits employees, but sometimes we forget there are a lot of benefits for the employer as well. Nick Donovan and Anand Iyer discussed one such benefit for organisations during a recent episode of Interviewing the Experts - Widening your talent pool! 📽️Check out the video below, and follow the link for the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/e9Sn4Umn #focusonwd #workday #remoteworking #talentpool

❌ Have you denied a request for flexible working arrangements? If an employer denies a flexible working request made under s65 of the Fair Work Act, they must make the employee aware of the effect of s65B and s65C of the Fair Work Act. s65B deals with disputes regarding flexible working arrangements; and s65C confers power upon the Fair Work Commission to arbitrate those disputes. 💡Consider adding something along these lines to your template s65 refusal letter (and seek advice as required): ⚬ Section 65B of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) provides for the resolution of disputes between employees and employers relating to flexible working arrangements. ⚬ Section 65C of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) provides for the arbitration of flexible workplace arrangement disputes by the Fair Work Commission. ⚬ You may wish to seek advice as to the application of either section 65B and/or section 65C from either a legal, union, or similar representative.

Following a recent UK Government consultation and Royal Assent of the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023, flexible working will become the default for millions of employees who will be able to request flexible working from day one of their employment in 2024. Flexible working doesn’t just mean a combination of working from home and in the office – it can mean employees making use of job-sharing, flexitime, and working compressed, annualised, or staggered hours. The UK government states that the new measures will give employees greater access to flexibility over where, when, and how they work, and the government hopes it will lead to happier, more productive staff.

The old adage of "the more you learn, the more you know" easily applies to organizations who don't yet understand if adjusting their work operations to a 4-day work week can work for them. Check out the link below to get some further insights and challenge yourselves to think beyond "how it's always been" and to consider "how it can be".... #4dayworkweek #workflexibility #hrtrends #letstalkhr #hr #employeeengagement #productivity #remotework #reducedhourapproach https://lnkd.in/e3DJ4Jy8