Two thirds of marketers would welcome a four-day week
Two thirds (66%) of marketing professionals have admitted that they are more attracted by a four-day week than they were a year ago, research has found.
Two-thirds of marketers have admitted that they would be willing to cut their salary by a fifth and lose £11,000-a-year in order to have a three-day-weekend, communications and marketing recruitment company EMR has said.
A poll of 2,882 marketing professionals found that one 6% were less attracted by the prospect of an extra day off a week than they were last year, while just over a quarter felt no differently.
Simon Bassett, managing director of EMR, said, “Appetite for a greater work-life balance is a sure indication that people feel more secure in their jobs. Since the recession, people have had to knuckle down and work harder. But as the economy picks up and there is less pressure on employers to make redundancies, people are increasingly prioritising a work-life balance. During hard times presenteeism increases and people work longer hours - the quality of their lifestyle becomes less of an issue when they are they are constantly looking over their shoulder. Employers now need to look at whether their current employment terms are flexible enough to satisfy this demand.”
The research found that if all marketing professional in the UK were to revert to a four-day working week, it would cost the treasury £2.6bn in lost income tax, as average marketing salaries now sit at £54,700. This would equate to a daily loss of £53 million a day.
The survey was released following a month in which several bank holidays have taken place, alongside an extra holiday being created to celebrate the Royal Wedding. The number of holidays in May is thought to have cost the economy £40bn.
Another bank holiday will also occur on Monday 2 May.
The research also found that with the development of mobile online communications, more professionals find it harder to escape work and relax.