Businesses should embrace five-day working weeks

Congratulations to the chief executive for the welcome introduction of a five-day working week for civil servants. But I am disappointed by the sceptics in business who suggest the initiative is likely to have a negative impact on productivity levels and, therefore, the bottom line.

I know of no evidence to suggest that working five days a week is likely to make people less productive. In fact, there is abundant evidence suggesting that having well-motivated, adequately rewarded staff increases productivity, commitment and retention rates, and contributes positively to the bottom line. I also know that five-day weeks contribute to successful family-friendly policies and a better work-life balance.

Maybe business scepticism is roused by the interpretation that five-day weeks will mean a reduction of services to customers and no access to Saturday morning facilities. No competitive modern business can afford not to offer services on demand. Indeed, the trend is for them to be extended to seven days a week, with retail operations open every day and service organisations like banks offering longer weekend walk-in services and 24-hour online facilities.

Detractors in the current debate might have confused five-day weeks with working Mondays to Fridays. As an international city known for some of the highest customer-service levels in the world, Hong Kong should be well placed to tell the difference.

I call upon the business community to examine its practices, and to explore imaginative and flexible work arrangements that meet the needs of the increasing number of women in the workforce.

Arranging days off during the week, rather than at weekends, allowing flexitime, and offering good maternity and paternity leave, insurance and pension arrangements are just some of the widely adopted modern practices by which employers can show they value their staff.

Developed economies are increasingly accepting family-friendly policies as an essential element in the hunt for suitable staff. Hong Kong businesses could lead by example and support a government initiative which has the best intentions.