NZ company trials innovative approach to strike work life balance

A company in Auckland has trialled a four day work week and employed academic researchers to test its success.

Perpetual Guardian’s managing director Andrew Barnes said the results of the eight week trial at the trust company were surprising.

He told Tom Elliott he has recommended the board approve it for the long-term.

“What was really interesting was that their stress levels dropped, their perception of how much work pressure they  had dropped,” he said on 3AW Drive.

“Their commitment, their stimulation, their feeling of being empowered and valued all went up about 40 per cent, productivity didn’t fall.”

Mr Barnes explained his staff stagger their days off, dependent on a roster system in their teams.

“It’s about what you produce, not how long you sit in an office to produce it,” he said.

“What is there to lose?”

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