Are you a TWAT? No, steady on: it refers to workers who come into the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, spending Monday and Fridays working from home.
While the term has been popularised recently, it was actually coined in 2019, pre-pandemic. These days, of course, it has a new resonance as employees adjust back to a hybrid work schedule following two years of WFH.
UK workers really like hybrid flexibility, as evidenced by a CIPD survey which found that 6% of employees changed jobs last year due to a lack of options around flexibility, with 12% leaving their profession/sector altogether.
Happily, that push-pull seems to be easing. This year, 60% of Brits say they have flexible working arrangements, compared to 51% last year.
CIPD’s survey also identified that there is unmet demand for other types of flexible working. Forty-six percent want a four-day week, 40% want informal flexibility, 39% want flexitime, with another 39% wanting to be able to work from home on a regular or ad hoc basis.
Company review website Glassdoor also points to a four day week as the workplace ideal.
In a recent study it found that 81% of professionals in the Glassdoor community said they would be more productive if their company implemented a four-day work week, while 19% said they would not be more productive.
Given that they shoulder more of the burden of responsibilities around housework and childcare, aka “invisible work”, it is not surprising that 88% of female respondents said they’d be more productive if their company brought in a four-day week, compared to men, at 75%.
Women spend 40% more time on unpaid work compared to men, according to a 2021 study, and another piece of research from 2020 highlighted that on average, UK women spent 15 hours per week in April and May of that year doing housework, compared with men who did 10 hours.
Thanks to initiatives such as that from the 4 Day Week, the concept is gaining traction. A UK trial of more than 60 UK companies in 2022 found that more than 90% of participating businesses opted to continue with the four day week trial, and 18 adopted it permanently.
If that sounds like the right fit for you, then you can browse companies with flexible work styles on the The London Economic Job Board. It contains ample opportunities across many sectors that might support your ideal working week.
Finance Manager, Advertising Finance, Amazon Online UK Limited, London
Amazon Online UK Limited is seeking a Finance Manager with overall responsibility is the controllership, analysis, planning, forecasting, and reporting for the UK Advertising businesses. You’ll support Advertising Sales teams and the wider business, proactively developing forward-looking projects to scale the business, act as trusted partner to the Advertising Sales teams in making optimal business decisions and highlighting critical blockers, risks, and opportunities that impact ability to meet quarterly/annual goals, and drive performance improvements, include evaluating revenue optimization opportunities, strategic programs to enhance productivity, process redesign, and financial reporting and analysis.
Business Development Manager – Enterprise Insights, Improbable, United Kingdom
Improbable, the metaverse company, is seeking an experienced and results-driven Business Development Manager to join the team and drive the sales of digital twin solutions within the supply chain market. You will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, establishing relationships with key stakeholders, and strategically positioning digital twin offerings to meet the needs of the supply chain industry. Your goal will be to expand the customer base, increase revenue, and drive the adoption of digital twin technology within the supply chain market. To apply, you will need a proven track record in business development or sales, preferably within the supply chain industry, as well as strong understanding of supply chain processes, logistics, and related technologies.
Finance Transformation Senior Analyst, Monzo, London
Monzo is looking for a Finance Transformation Consultant on a 12 month fixed term contract to support its Finance ERP programme team and assist the finance function and the wider business to implement SAP S4 Hana. You will be responsible for delivering against programme plans and working with the business to ensure the change is managed and delivered effectively, on time and within scope. Every day you’ll support the delivery of the programme communication plan, ensuring all stakeholders are aware of the changes and brought along the journey, and lead the delivery of work streams and pieces of work.
For more inspiration on your next career move, check out The London Economic Job Board
