22 Feb 2023

Precision Vehicle and Asset Tracking has partnered with Stellenbosch University on a six months pilot survey to explore the idea of a four-day work week.

Precision Vehicle and Asset Tracking, which consideres itself progressive, believes in pioneering new initiatives and products that defined the future of work. 

In an interview, the chief executive officer of Precision Vehicle and Asset Tracking, Ms Kealeboga Kaelo said a four-day week was a global platform for like-minded people.

She said the 4 Day Week Global published its findings from its most extensive four-day week pilot, which showed that participating companies experienced increased revenue alongside reduced absenteeism and resignations. In addition, Ms Kaelo said employees also experienced a significant increase in health and wellbeing.

“The four-day week is based on the 100-80-100 model, which prescribes 100 per cent of the pay for 80 per cent of the time in exchange for a commitment to delivering 100 per cent of the output,” she said.

The CEO said Precision would therefore join about 29 companies from South Africa as a lone private entity representing Botswana on a pilot study beginning March and ending in the next six months.

She said the decision to join the trial was persuaded by the anticipated benefits of staff wellbeing as well as the anticipated productivity benefits as a result of having more focused and healthier workforce.

She anticipated that having three days off each week would give employees a better chance to do other things, be it business, a new hobby or rest.

Ms Kaelo said it was worth noting that reduction in working days would not result in reduced pay. 

“We will schedule our work such that each employee gets at least eight hours free per week,” she said. 

For her part, BNPC acting general manager, Ms Matlho Kgosi, said they were proud of Precision for being the first company to take course in the pilot survey of the four-day work week. 

Ms Kgosi said BNPC was part of the World Economic Forum, which over the past year they had been releasing data on the future world of work.

“Now, the four-day work week is part of the future world of work and if you recall, before people used to work six days a week until somebody from a motor industry decided to conduct a study which gave birth to the five day work week,” she said.

This proved to be healthy for human beings but overtime due to the challenges emanating, a study was conducted in New Zealand and revealed that the optimum number of days to work was actually four, she said. 

Ms Kgosi said the four days did not mean less amount of hours worked, however meant less days more output.

“Already, more than 30 companies and almost 1 000 employees in countries including the US, Ireland and Australia recently conducted a six months four day week pilot programme – with the UK data, which began in June 2022, and results are expected early 2023,” she said.

Ms Kgosi said they would be monitoring the pilot survey in order to gauge the benefits to productivity and also to encourage other organizations to join the June pilot. ENDS