This company plans to keep a 4-day working week because it makes staff happier – and stops them leaving

Workers in a four-day working week trial in Ireland got more sleep, felt less stressed, and spent more time volunteering.

The businesses that took part in the experiment plan to keep the working pattern.

The Irish trade union Frsa, Four-Day Week Ireland, University College Dublin, and Boston College conducted a six-month trial in which twelve companies reduced their working hours.

At the end of the trial, 100% of employees wanted to keep the reduced working schedule. The companies have signaled their intentions to do so.

Rent a Recruiter is co- founded by Barry Prost. The reduced work week gave small businesses a competitive advantage when hiring talent, he said.

It had a 20% staff turnover before the trial. Prost said they felt they had to do something bold because they were losing staff to larger companies.

Rent a Recruiter wasn't able to match the salaries of larger companies. Prost said the company wanted to find an affordable "transformative benefit" that could be a "key differentiator" in a battle for talent.

Rent a Recruiter brought in a four-day week six months ago and has not lost a single employee. According to Prost, internal metrics show a rise in employee satisfaction and an increase in productivity.

Rent a Recruiter had to make important discussions about productivity and prioritization as they transitioned to a four-day work schedule. It got rid of superfluous meetings and emails that interfered with the flow of information.

Rent a Recruiter introduced a four-day week with a switch to full time remote work.

Prost said they wanted to combat any feelings of loneliness because they were moving out of the office. The reduction of the working week will allow people to focus on their work for four days, then switch to socializing in their three days off.

The company's profits have risen during the trial, as Prost told Insider, because everyone wanted to retain the benefit.

The arrangement was not perfect according to Prost.

Prost does not work a four-day working week. The directors have to answer the phones and meet with clients on Fridays, according to him.

He is positive about the future of four-day weeks and encourages other companies to look into it.