Althams unveils 5% pay rise on top of four-day week change

Lauren Cawtherley, Jessica Burnley, Suzanne Knowles, and Angela Harrison are sales consultants for Althams Travel.

The four-day working week without a cut in pay was hailed as a game-changing move by the managers of Althams Travel.

The move from April 1 to create a better work-life balance for the company's 200 staff was warmly welcomed by them.

The first increase in salary for two years will be given to staff at the agency next month.

The company will return to profitability this year after two years of losses due to the Pandemic. After its best year to date, the company went into the Pandemic and lost its transport department.

Andrew said that they were all excited and looking forward to it. We will work hard and be more motivated when we are at work, but on the other hand, we will have more family time.

After the last two years, having more flexibility at work is a great opportunity.

The change was a game-changer for the staff.

She said that it will mean a lovely work-life balance. A staff member with young children will be able to spend more time with them and less time in the nursery.

I have elderly parents and this will allow me to have more quality time with them. When we are at work, we will do what is required and give 100%.

The agency chain's shop hours have been changed to open at 9.30am instead of 9am and close at 5pm.

The change in the working week would allow Helen to collect her daughter from school twice a week instead of once a week, as she no longer needed to drop her off at the school breakfast club before work.

She said that she doesn't feel guilty about dropping her daughter there because she doesn't have to pay the breakfast club fee.

Everyone will feel more positive at work. We have to make it work.

When colleagues are on holiday, staff may have to step up to five days, but will be paid overtime for the extra day.

If there are staffing issues, the company has a pool system in which staff can switch between branches.

The company pay rise was necessary because of the increased cost of living according to McAllister.

She said that even with the staff moving to four days it didn't feel right to not give them more money.

Travel is low paid and we were close to the minimum wage which is appalling given the experience agents have and the job they do. We haven't been able to increase salaries because of Covid.