What if the four-day week was as beneficial for employees as it was for their boss?

Emmanuel Duteil and Jean-Luc Boujon, edited by Solène Delinger 06:16, February 04, 2022

With the approach of the presidential election, the question of working time is invited into the debates.

The boss of Total has announced that he is considering the possibility of a four-day week.

For its part, the computer hardware giant LDLC has already taken the plunge and does not regret it.

The employees of the company are delighted, and their boss too.

But how to concretely set up this four-day week? 

Already, it is necessary to know if the company wants to continue to work 35 hours or to take advantage of it to reduce the working time of its employees each week.

If she wants to keep working 35 hours, she just has to work a little more each day.

This is very common, for example in hospitals or clinics.

A real "benefit" 

The staff, in particular the nursing auxiliaries, can work in three 12-hour shifts.

This can also be an opportunity to reduce the company's working time to four days.

This is what computer hardware giant LDLC did a year ago.

The results are very positive.

Concretely, whether they are employed in offices or shops or in logistics warehouses, employees now only work four days a week and they have the right to pose on the day of their choice.

For Monique, hostess, it's Wednesday. 

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"It's a break in the middle of the week. It's fantastic to be able to do a bit of your daily life at home, make doctor's appointments, do your shopping, take care of your family", testifies t she on Europe 1. "And, in addition, it's still a benefit to work 32 hours and be paid 35. I come back boosted for Thursday and Friday, it's happiness".

Employees and their boss satisfied

The employees are therefore happy and the boss too.

Laurent de la Clergerie, founder of the company and supporter of well-being at work, finds his account here.

"In fact, they are more rested and suddenly they work better," he says on Europe 1. "As a week of five days passes, we are tired, we are fed up. We eagerly awaits the weekend. When there are only four days left, with a break, the rhythm does not drop. And since it does not drop, the productivity of the three hours that I lose, in reality, I do not lose more because they are better for the 32 hours they are there". 

This change did not cost anything to the boss who did not need to hire.

He even increased the lowest salaries by 10%, because at the same time, LDLC saw its result climb by 9%.