Plain and printed corrugated cardboard business Belmont Packaging, based in Wigan, UK, has announced it has moved to a four-day working week after a successful trial with its 31 employees.
Along with its e-commerce sister business, Boxed-Up, it began the trial in the manufacturing department in late 2019 in order to give staff more time to focus on themselves, their mental health and their loved ones. After a positive switch, it has been rolled out to the rest of the organisation as of today (20 September).
According to Belmont Packaging, the policy will help to increase employees’ happiness and contribute to fewer burnouts at work, leaving them more focused and happier in their roles. Its senior leadership wants to recognise the employees as its biggest asset and lead the way in employee health and wellbeing within the packaging industry.
Commercial members of staff will work Monday to Thursday from 7.15am to 5.30pm, and those in manufacturing will do 7.00am to 5.00pm on the same days.
Commercial manager Gareth Rollo commented that as well as valuing customers, business trade partners and suppliers, the organisation also values its employees whose hard work, commitment and dedication make the business the success it is.
He explained that the organisation has always strived to be progressive when it comes to customer service, quality, capability, technology, and new ways of working, and that he wants all employees to return to work, “ready to take on the new day, a new challenge, and to make a difference in the packaging world”.
“In order to further recognise this, and to lead the way in employee health and wellbeing, we are delighted to announce an industry-leading change to ways of working which is intended to give our employees a better work-life balance while allowing us to continue giving our customers the first-class products and service they are accustomed to,” he said.
