Staff at Sainsbury’s put option of four-day week to the test

Some staff at Sainsbury's headquarters in Holborn, London, on 37.5 hour contracts could work on a Saturday and take a day off in the week, or could work longer weekday hours
Some staff at Sainsbury's headquarters in Holborn, London, on 37.5 hour contracts could work on a Saturday and take a day off in the week, or could work longer weekday hours
ALAMY

Sainsbury’s has been running a trial for a new scheme that allows its employees to work a four-day week.

Staff at the grocer’s head offices in Holborn, Coventry and Milton Keynes, as well as its warehouses, and store managers in its 1,400 UK shops are all taking part in the experiment.

Under the scheme, which aims to improve flexibility, employees have the option to work their 37.5-hour contracts in a seven-day week. It means some head-office workers could work on a Saturday and take a day off in the week, or could work longer weekday hours, should they choose. They would not be allowed, however, to take a string of Fridays off.

It is understood that there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to how people