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A LOT CAN happen in 10 years. Where is Ireland going, and what will life be like here in the year 2029? Welcome to Ireland 2029: Shaping Our Future, a brand new podcast from TheJournal.ie.
Over the next 10 episodes, we’re partnering with Volkswagen to bring you 10 big ideas that could change Ireland for the better. Each week, we’ll talk to someone about an idea they truly believe could work, and find out whether it’s practical, or whether it’s a non-runner.
In the first episode of Ireland 2029, we ask: Is Ireland ready for a four-day working week?
“In the same way as trade unions won the weekend, and won the eight-hour day, we can win the four-day week.”
That’s Joe O’Connor, director of campaigning at Fórsa, outlining his support for a four-day working week to Ireland 2029 presenter Sean Murray.
Here in Ireland, employers typically work to a five days on, two days off structure. But could more time offline make for a happier workforce, a more productive economy, and a more sustainable society?
It’s an idea that has already been trialled internationally. Perpetual Guardian, a trust fund management company in New Zealand, conducted a pilot four-day week scheme over eight weeks in 2018.
Staff satisfaction, motivation and overall productivity was monitored during the scheme by researchers from the University of Auckland and Auckland Institute of Technology. The benefits went far beyond just perceived happiness. Staff showed increased commitment, stronger leadership skills, and – most notably – no loss in overall productivity.
Irish companies are on board
Closer to home, the Galway recruitment firm ICE Group recently made headlines with plans to adopt a similar approach with its own staff rosters. Starting from July 2019, staff will work four nine-hour days, with the same pay as before, and a three-day weekend.
The idea is one that ICE MD Margaret Cox predicts will contribute to a rise in sales of between 10% and 15% next year, but it was a slow burner to begin with. Speaking on the first episode of Ireland 2029, she recalls:
When we announced it to staff there was dead silence and we were going, ‘Oh my God, nobody likes this idea’. And I think it was that everybody was just falling off their chair.
Despite the obvious advantages to employers, a four-day work week presents some major challenges too.
For companies that require a continuous flow of production, or in industries like healthcare where staff work “on call” over long periods, it’s not practical to suddenly cut labour hours.
“You lose flexibility,” John Barry, MD of Management Support Services and a council member of ISME, tells Ireland 2029 reporters. “That’s where the difficulties begin.”
So could working shorter hours really mean working smarter, and perhaps more efficiently – or will it be a mess of logistics, missed deadlines and over-stressed employers?
Hear more on the first episode of Ireland 2029: Shaping Our Future, which is live right now:
Full list of providers here:
https://soundcloud.com/ireland-2029/is-ireland-ready-for-a-four-day-working-week
Ireland 2029 is a podcast from TheJournal.ie, in partnership with Volkswagen. This episode was put together by presenter Sean Murray, producer Stevie McDermott, series producer Órla Ryan and executive producer Christine Bohan. Editing by Nicky Ryan. With thanks to Paula Lyne and our contributors.
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I think another contract by an outsourced development team, contracted by another provider, who can consult on the other contractors contract is required. Or has ESB not done this? Recognition of the Union and pay them fairly. Outsourcing is a race to the bottom by corporations. Keep it cheap for technicians while management lick the cream off the profit’s.
@Twitruser2021: the ESB is a semi-state I’m afraid – whatever profits are made don’t go to “management”.
Existing ESB unions are poison as it is, milking the lot of us. No surprise they don’t want to recognise a new one.
@Pseud O’Nym: = naivety at its greatest
@Twitruser2021: bull one of the best paid employees in the country. Greed that is all it is. Unions = dysfunctional
@john s: get a job with them so!
What the ESB are saying is the will only negotiate with “Approved Unions “ those who the company deem appropriate . The day the employer tells the worker who can and Cannot represent them is a bad day for workers everywhere .
Why don’t the company engage in talks with the union? The union is willing to meet them on the matter but they refuse!
@Bull McCabe: I would guess the other unions don’t want a new union infringing on their patch. The official unions will want to be the only workers representatives. Management would be the same, It be a nightmare if dozens of unions popped up and they all want to negotiate separately.
Power to the people
This is a union battle, does ictu recognise this union. I knew sliptru would be involved. I hope the ESB go to the wrc. They have significant members and should be recognised..
Effectively what they are saying is we have no way to influence this union so we won’t speak to them.
One of the best paid group of employees in the country with pensions to match going on strike,many large european economies have better systems in place with one union representing all company employees, multible unions representing a few thousand employees is ridiculous that no employer wants to have to deal with.
@Richard Mccarthy: The Esb don’t pay the Electrical rate so no they are not the best paid in the country .
have your say