Launch of four-day week trial with Azores public administration

Over 400 public service staff are taking part in the scheme co-ordinated by Dr Rita Fontinha, that sees them paid the same for fewer hours worked.

A trial of the four-day workweek in services across the Azores’ Regional Public Administration has launched this month. Co-ordinated by Dr Rita Fontinha, Director of Flexible Work at Henley’s World of Work Institute, and Dr Pedro Gomes from Birbeck Business School, the trial involves around 400 workers who will see their work week cut from 35 to 32 hours with no reduction in pay. 

Running for six months, the trial will examine the impact of the reduced hours on productivity, quality of public serviceprovision, and workers’ well-being – looking at motivation and job satisfaction.

Speaking about the trial, Dr Rita Fontinha said:

“From this trial, we will gather data and evidence that can be used to inform decisions around flexible working practices.

Companies are increasingly looking to organise work in a new way to benefit employee wellbeing and job satisfaction, without compromising the quality of work. Trials like this one are vital in demonstrating it is possible to modify work across sectors and industry, both public and private.”

The pilot project covers a total of 13 services in the Azores, including the Regional Directorate for Science, Innovation and Development, the Regional Directorate for Communities, the Regional Directorate for Sport, the Regional Directorate for Rural Development, the Regional Directorate for Fisheries, several regional inspectorates, the Regional Laboratory of Civil Engineering, the Integrated Citizen Support Network, as well as central services of the Regional Secretariats for Health and Social Security and for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities.