Around 5% of the British Red Cross’s workforce will begin trialling a four-day week next month.
Starting on 1 July, the four-day week pilot will last for six months and apply to around 200 members of staff.
A mixture of frontline and supporting teams will be affected, including the entire technology function.
The pilot was organised following consultation with the charity’s staff and diversity networks.
Last year, several charities switched to a four-day week permanently, following successful trials.
‘Work life balance is important to us’
Laura Roxburgh, senior director of people at the British Red Cross said: “Our staff work incredibly hard to support those in crisis across the UK and around the world.
“Their work life balance is important to us and we are always looking for new ways we can offer greater flexibility and be more productive.
“As part of this some teams across the British Red Cross are taking part in a pilot to trial a four-day working week.
“We are in the early stages of this and look forward to learning from the pilot.”
Graham Kent, director of technology at the British Red Cross, said the entire technology directorate will be taking part in the trial.
In a post on LinkedIn, he said he believed this is “the future of work” for his profession and that it is an “extension of the flexible work routine”.
He noted that the team will be measuring the pilot’s success through staff engagement, wellbeing and continuity of output.
