‘Britain’s Best Boss’ gives workers a four-day week… but still pays them for FIVE because it boosts their morale | The Sun

A HERO boss has given all of his staff a four day week but still pays them for five because it boosts their morale.

Martyn King, managing director of Fuel, started the four day week trial for his employees earlier this month in a bid to make staff more relaxed and productive.

The company from Plymouth, Devon, provides market insights into major businesses such as Google and Meta.

Fuel plans to operate under their new model until March 2023 as part of a six month trial which has seen revenues soar by 107%.

Although staff will have to work one day less, a new scheduling system means the company still operates five days a week.

Lucky workers will receive the equivalent of a 9% payrise in their hourly rate, introduced alongside pay rises to combat the cost of living.

Read More in Money

We’ve been living in our car for 8 months – there’s a council flat empty & waiting

We test low-cost supermarket spaghetti after pasta prices rise by 60%

Thanks to the cost-of-living crisis, millions of Brits have been left to fork out on basic needs like petrol and heating.

Generous boss Martyn called the project an "extension" of the hybrid working environment that Fuel has adopted during the pandemic.

The only trade off is that workers will begin at 8am, working until the usual 5pm.

But this still sees a net loss of 3 hours work per week for staff.

Martyn launched the programme following months of talks between the business and it's clients, along with it's workforce and reviews of similar ongoing projects.

Most read in Money

He said: "It's certainly boosted morale in the office, we're now in our third week of it.

"There definitely was a period of adjustment though, we prepared well for it – but people are starting to adjust from working a five day working pattern to four.

"It's going well, but of course it is a big adaptation from the five day model people have worked their entire careers.

"We've increased our opening hours across the week for our clients, because we provide a lot of ecommerce work it's quite important to have people on hand all the time."

The hero boss explained how the company has two teams so that the shorter working week is feasible.

He continued: "But also, we effectively have two teams. On a Wednesday 50% of people have their rest day, and on a Friday the other 50% have theirs.

"We have a close buddying system to match staff together, so that the skillset we have on at any one time is always complimentary so we always have the same range of skills available to our clients.

"It's a trial and it's aimed at making sure people are more relaxed and more productive, so we'll need to run the trial through fully.

"We're a busy agency though, so we'll need to adapt and then see if we'll maintain it in six months."

Fuel has been working with Plymouth-based firm Portcullis Legals which became the first business in the country to adopt a four day week – and gave them a pay rise.

Read More on The Sun

Hollywood heartthrob looks unrecognisable after dramatic body transformation

I’m trolled for having naturally big boobs, people make the same mean comments

The legal firm became the first in the country to receive a Gold Standard four-day week employer accreditation from the 4 Day Week Campaign after switching in May 2019.

It comes after another set of generous bosses gave all their staff a £600 bonus to help them through the cost-of-living crisis.

Source: Read Full Article