4 Day Week SA Pilot Program
Forward thinking businesses have an opportunity to sign up for South Africa’s second 4-day week pilot initiative, kicking off in September 2023.
South Africa’s first ever trial of the new model of working is now underway with the 4 Day Week SA Pioneer Pilot due to run from March – September 2023. Registrations for this pilot have now closed. But there will be further opportunities to participate for organisations looking to improve productivity and wellbeing in the workplace; attract and retain talent and impact society and the environment positively in the longer term. Participants are already being recruited for the second pilot planned for September 2023.
You are invited to sign up.
What is the second 4-day week pilot programme about?
South African companies, and a growing base of interested parties from the African continent, have an opportunity to join a co-ordinated, 6 month trial of the 4-day week, with no loss in pay. The trial will follow the format of similar pilot programmes that have taken place in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – and are currently taking place with the 4 Day Week SA Pioneer Pilot underway. Pilots are co-ordinated by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with local NPC 4 Day Week SA and researchers at Boston College and Stellenbosch Business School. Participating companies will have unparalleled access to the expertise, tools and resources needed to run a smooth and successful trial.
Who should participate?
Forward thinking companies from South Africa, and elsewhere on the African continent, who want to be pioneers in trialling a 4-day week, as a way of supporting and empowering workers, enhancing organisational productivity and having a positive impact on our society and the environment.
It’s a model being trialled by companies across all sorts of industries from professional services firms to more front facing businesses such as restaurants and hospitality outlets; nursing homes and operators in the retail and manufacturing sector.
We see interest from a wide spectrum of organisations from start-ups to legacy companies, small businesses to multinationals. While smaller companies have been the early adapters because it’s generally easier for them to make big changes, we are here to help all sizes of company take a carefully imagined approach to adopting a 4-day week. And it’s not a white-collar worker initiative. ALL employees can choose to opt in and be part of the experiment regardless of existing labour legislation constraints.
How will participants benefit?
Participants will benefit from the expertise, resources, collegiality and support provided by what been a successful pilot formula used all over the world.
- On-line webinars: delivered by 4 Day Week Global and 4 Day Week SA experts and other organisations that have already successfully implemented a 4-day week.
- On-line platforms: access to Notion and Circle as platforms for engagement and rich sources of information – for planning and implementing the roll out of a 4-day week.
- Networking: with other pilot participants and the benefits of a peer support network to share learnings and experiences.
- Membership of the 4 Day Week SA Coalition: and association with a growing base of local partners interested in supporting the idea of the 4-day week as a part of the future of work in South Africa and across the continent.
- Research: by a team of world class academics as part of a global research project. Researchers will work with participants to establish relevant productivity and worker wellbeing metrics. These metrics will be monitored throughout the trial, with a confidential impact assessment specific to each organisation produced after the trial, alongside a published report collating data from all participating companies and employees on an anonymous basis. Stellenbosch Business School is the local research partner for the pilot.
- Media outreach: with local and global publicity managed by public relations agency Go4word.
What will participation in the pilot cost?
Participation in the trial is donations based, with varying contributions dependent on the size of the organisation. Donations benefit the 4 Day Week SA NPC and the 4 Day Week Global entity; and support local research and communications efforts. A local non-profit Company has been registered to facilitate donations.
What is the deadline and timeline?
Sign-up Deadline: 31st August 2023
Preparation: September 2023 (Rollout of information sessions on the pilot programme – preparation, training and onboarding sessions).
6 month trial period: starting November 2023
Register for the Pilot
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