A Plymouth law firm that became the first in the UK to switch to a four-day week – and give staff a pay rise – has become the centre of global attention and inundated with CVs from people wanting to work for it.
Portcullis Legals, which made the move so its employees are less stressed and more productive, has been contacted by firms from as far as Australia, including global brands such as Rolls Royce, and media outlets including the LA Times since its switch was revealed by Business Live’s sister title Plymouth Live in May 2019.
The law firm has now been made the UK ambassador of 4 Day Week Global, the world-wide “community” promoting the four-day-week employment model, and staged a conference in Plymouth attended by more than 40 businesses of all sizes, from Penzance to Bristol, interested in how they can switch to four-day working.
And it was deluged with inquiries from people wanting to work for it, and potential clients, including a “famous film director” who transferred business to the company.
The idea has even excited the Labour party, which included a desire for a 32-hour working week by 2029 in its recent conference.
“It’s gone ballistic,” said Portcullis managing director Trevor Worth, who came up with the idea. “And it’s gone global. I have had contact from an Australian lawyer, the LA Times, academic institutions, Exeter University wants me to do a talk, I’ve had one-to-one meetings with directors and talked to people from Rolls Royce, and I’m now on the advisory board of the University of Essex.
“And we had more than 400 CVs emailed to us from all over the world in just one weekend, when the story broke.
“That included about 70 to 80 people from other Plymouth law firms. Most of the applications were from women and we took on two new people.
“It’s a people thing. People want to feel as good at work as they do at home, and not stressed, so when they go home they can give the best to their family.”
Mr Worth explained that Portcullis Legals switched to four-day working on January 1, 2019, and carried out a three-month trial, initially shutting on Fridays.
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The company, which has 10 employees but is growing, then began a second, three-month trial, in which the four-days working was spread over the five-day week.
It slashed hours from 37 and a half to 34, and even gave its workers a pay rise, to prove it was not a cost-cutting exercise.
“The team loved it,” Mr Worth said. “They come into work refreshed, colleague satisfaction has gone up, revenues and referrals have gone up, and it’s made the business so visible.”
Now Mr Worth is encouraging other firms to follow Portcullis Legals’ lead and said: “It’s just as easy for a big firm if people are open minded, it’s driven by open-minded employers and employees.
“But you can’t force it on people and it’s not for everyone, but you need to trial it, have an audit on what is best for their team.”
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Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
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He added: “There are seismic changes going on, whether that is veganism, populism or to do with the environment, this is one of those.
“I’m more than happy to talk to other businesses and share our experience.”
Portcullis Legals has won a string of awards including being a double winner at the Plymouth Business Awards, run by Business Live’s sister publication Plymouth Live.
