“Org Psych in the News”

Article: “This UK bank has moved to a four-day work week without cutting pay”
Link: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/23/business/atom-bank-four-day-week/index.html
I decided to focus on an interesting move by a UK bank, which has decided that its employees can work for four days a week. I found this move quite interesting and I wanted to know its impact on productivity and more importantly, on the wellbeing of employees. These are key concerns for organizational psychology and I believe the news article presents major learning points that modern companies can emulate.
In the news article, a UK-based bank, Atom Bank, opted to implement a four-day workweek without a reduction in pay. The employees of the company are now free to choose whether they would like to work for four or five days a week. As reported in the article, the move was meant to improve the mental and physical well-being of employees while at the same time improving productivity. According to the CEO of the company, “a four-day week will provide our employees with more opportunities to pursue their passions, spend time with their families, and build a healthier work/life balance.” The article reports how two studies found that implementing a four-day workweek while maintaining pay levels did not reduce productivity but significantly elevated employee well-being. I am confident that the article offers important learning points for organizational psychologists seeking to improve the well-being of employees.
Key organizational concepts from the article are employee productivity and work-life balance. Employee productivity is a major concern for organizations as it determines profitabili...