60% of South Africans polled prefer a four-day workweek in order to have more free time

South Africans are eager to embrace the seemingly radical four-day workweek.

Employees in this mode of work have more time away from the office to rest, spend time with loved ones, and engage in recreational activities.

Non-profit corporation 4 Day Work Week South Africa will test this futuristic work structure in businesses that have chosen to participate in the six-month trial, which will run from February to July.

The four-day workweek is based on the 100-80-100 model, which states that employees receive 100% of their pay for 80% of their time in exchange for producing at least 100% of their output.

More than 60% of 3500 people polled in a recent Auto & General Insurance survey thought the four-day work week was a good idea.

71% of respondents were back at work after the Covid-19 lockdown ended. 52% of respondents reported that their workplace does not have a flexible working policy, which may have contributed to their enthusiasm for this work mode.

The head of Auto & General Insurance, Ricardo Coetzee said, “The workplace of the future prioritises well-being, flexibility, and sustainability. Whether that comes in the form of a four-day week, a hybrid policy or a commute-worthy office environment, it’s the cornerstone of an attractive employee value proposition.”

According to Karen Lowe, the director of 4 Day Week South Africa, the organization’s goal is to change the conversation about work because the country has been focusing on time-based output rather than productivity-based output.

“The prescribed five-day week is not necessarily the best way to deliver the best level of productivity. We have seen this time and time again in organisations across the private sector and the government who are really struggling in South Africa’s post-Covid-19 to get the workforce back into offices,” she said.

Over 15 companies have signed up for the pioneering experiment. One of them is TDMC, an e-commerce agency.

This is done, according to the company, to attract and retain skilled employees, as well as to enable its team to “live their best life every week.”

Cheryl Ingram, TDMC’s managing director, stated that the agency has always prioritised promoting a healthy work-life balance for its employees and that participating in this pilot project allows it to highlight its agile and innovative approach to business while demonstrating industry leadership.

“I love the idea of leading from the front, and taking part in this four-day week pilot gives us the opportunity to put productivity in the hands of our employees. It’s up to them to make it work and in doing so, they take ownership for creating the work environment they want,” she said.

The deadline for registering companies interested in participating in the experiment has been extended to January 15.