PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) has reintroduced its summer working hours policy, which it piloted between July and August 2021, as part of its hybrid-working arrangement.
From 1 June to the end of August 2022, PWC’s employees will be able to condense the working week in order to finish at lunchtime on Fridays.
The organisation surveyed staff in the wake of a 2021 summer hours pilot, and found that more than 90% said the policy was a good idea. Furthermore, 73% felt it had positively impacted their wellbeing to a great extent, and 93% said it improved their daily working experience.
The two greatest benefits of working condensed hours during the summer were found to be spending more time with family and friends (74%), and having the freedom to focus on personal wellbeing (71%).
The summer working hours form part of a wider approach to hybrid working that PWC has dubbed ‘the deal’, introduced in 2021. The organisation has also introduced a flexible approach to bank holidays, giving its staff the freedom to swap up to two bank holidays for times that better suit them.
Kevin Ellis, chairman and senior partner at PWC UK, said: “We knew summer working hours would be popular with our people, but the positive impact on wellbeing surpassed expectations. Not everyone could take every Friday, but they benefited from less email traffic when they did and a chance to switch off properly.
“We’ve had another exceptionally busy year and as we approach the summer holiday period, we hope our policy gives people more time for themselves, their friends and their families.”
Other employers which have introduced summer working hours in recent years include Kellogg’s and Nationwide Building Society.