In countries that are at the forefront of innovation and the search for Quality of Life, the 4-day-a-week working day is beginning to be implemented in an experimental phase.
In Emocosmética, -a young and innovative cosmetic brand that is distinguished by creating emotional cosmetics that seek balance of body and emotions- this is an initiative that is now two years old since its launch in January 2017. And it is that talking about Emotional Balance and Happiness, implies for the firm, a real, tangible and perceptible commitment for all those who, in one way or another, enjoy Emocosmética.
In countries like New Zealand, the New Zealand company Perpetual guardian approves the implementation of the four-day work week after it received the approval of New Zealand lawyers, without this reduction affecting the salary of its workers and without its implementation being mandatory. This initiative, which places New Zealand among the countries that are at the forefront of labor innovation, arose from an experiment carried out by the company during the past months, to improve the well-being of its workers and at the same time quantify how it affected to the company and its income statement.
In the United States, for example, more and more states are joining this trend that is timidly beginning to be observed in some private companies. Georgia and Virginia have launched the first test phase among a small number of officials, while Oregon and Texas are debating whether or not to encourage a reduction in the working week.
And while the world gradually begins to value this initiative, in the heart of Andalusia, the Emocosmética Company celebrates two years of this working day model today, thus consolidating innovation in another of its areas of activity.
Why and what assessment do the creators of the brand make of this model of working hours?
"Working five days a week is a convention like any other, which can be changed when needed, since it is the people who organize a company and not the other way around.. " Explain Manu Herrera, founding partner and CEO of Emocosmética.
The arguments about the four-day week, which does not necessarily imply a reduction in total working hours, are many and varied. Let's take a look at some of them and discover them directly from the brand's partners.
Saving Before the implementation of the plan, in the Administration area of the firm it was calculated that expenses would be reduced by 5% per year. Subsequently, the audits showed that an average of 12% had been saved annually, something that they still hope to improve in successive years, thanks to this model of working hours.
"Many businessmen and analysts, stagnant in the past, are afraid to implement this type of working day, because they believe that the happiness of their workers has a too high price, but the reality is that, in our case, the weekly hours are the same , and far from losing productivity, we have increased performance, we have generated greater happiness in our team; and in addition, we have saved costs, something very positive for all parties involved" Tells us Raul Ligioiz, Founding partner and Director of the Administration and Finance area of the company.
The directors of Emocosmética appeal to also take into account other less visible factors, such as health savings, since there was a significant reduction in sick leave, or gasoline savings by having one less trip per week, savings in meals since its workers eat one less day away from home. But without a doubt, the bulk of the savings came from energy and supplies; such as light, air conditioning, machinery in operation, even on the phone.
"By concentrating schedules, you tend to waste less time and employees focus more on their work. They manage to reach the objectives in less time so that the general performance does not suffer this schedule so valued for them. With Friday off, everyone enjoys their job more, Monday comes clearer and more motivated. In addition, many of them invest Fridays in expanding their training, and something that we did not expect is that the training of the team has improved and their proactive attitude is substantially greater." It states Manu Herrera.
"Due to the nature of our companies, the reduction of the working week has not led to a decrease in clients, since deep down they are grateful and proud to work with companies that promote a better world for all"Conclude Raul Ligioiz
Responsibility with the environment One of the factors that Emocosmética is most proud of with this initiative focuses on improving energy efficiency and thus reducing pollution, due to the decrease in consumption of heating, air conditioning, electricity and gas. As well as the decrease in the use of vehicles to go to work.
Obviously Emocosmética is a pioneer in this commitment, but with its small grain of sand they intend to raise awareness among other entrepreneurs so that they support the initiative and thus achieve a better environmental environment for all.
Quality of Life “We cannot work to create a cosmetic that balances us physically and emotionally, forgetting the team that makes it possible. Therefore, for us this is an essential point to approach with commitment and desire to innovate. The survey that we carried out with our employees, before starting with this change, concluded that 100% of them were satisfied and excited about their new working hours. Because indisputably, the possibility of having more free time to devote to social relationships, family or hobbies is directly related to well-being. And in Emocosmética, we work for the well-being, health and beauty of people ... of all people, of course and above all, our co-workers " Express Fatim Ligioiz, Founding partner and head of the R + D + i department of Emocosmética.
The search for a better balance between work and life outside work is one of the theses that could summarize the main motives of Emocosmética to defend and carry out a genuine and courageous workday, which is consolidated among its workers, to defend a world where the happiness of the people, is above other less laudable interests.
