Pandemic propels workers closer to four-day week

Office workers (left) are seen inside a conference room as a tram (bottom right) passes on the road below in central Oslo, Norway. The pandemic forced mass change in office culture, as lockdowns that closed schools and offices resulted in a sudden shift to remote working and flexible hours as many people struggled to balance jobs with care responsibilities. — AFP

LONDON: British photographer Paul David Smith had long toyed with the idea of switching all his staff to a four-day week, but it was the flexibility and reliability they showed in the pandemic that gave him the confidence to take the plunge.

Almost a year later and his trust has been rewarded.