A VOLUNTEER is giving more time to his role with the Ambulance Service thanks to his Rugby employer’s decision to introduce a four-day working week.
Custom Heat is rolling out the initiative – under which all employees retain their full salaries – until August 31 following a successful trial that showed improved staff wellbeing and minimal impact on business performance.
Simon Scarfe, a 56-year-old engineer who has been with the family-run heating and plumbing company for four years, found the extra day allowed him to focus on his other passion in life, working with the Ambulance Service as a Community First Responder
Simon, who has worked in the gas industry for 25 years, said: “Before the four-day week, I’d finish work around 6.30 in the evening and feel like I wasn’t doing the first responder scheme justice by only being available for an hour or two. With Wednesdays free, I can now dedicate proper time to emergency medical response in our local community.”
During his trial, Simon was able to ride along with double-crewed ambulances for full 12-hour shifts.
He added: “The four-day week has allowed me to give back to the community in ways I simply couldn’t manage before. During winter, it was challenging to balance everything, but having that midweek break particularly helped with the winter blues. It gave me the ability to do jobs at home, volunteer, and spend more time with family.
“Having that extra day to breathe made a real difference. I could manage household tasks, visit my mother more, and generally not feel guilty about having a little bit of me time.”
For 32-year-old Cezary Goman, a service and repair engineer with five years at Custom Heat, the trial arrived at a crucial time.
He said: “My wife had been unwell for three years before the trial, and I was working 6-7 days a week trying to catch up on everything.
“For me, it felt like someone taking the pressure off. I could finally relax a little.”
The father of two children, aged six and 16, initially had reservations.
“When they first told me about it, I had mixed feelings,” he said. “Part of me worried we weren’t busy enough, and I might lose progression opportunities. But I was also happy to have an extra day for myself.”
Mr Goman, who opted to take Tuesdays off during his five-week trial, is now looking forward to choosing Wednesdays for the full implementation.
“This way I can work two days, have one day off, then work two more days before the weekend – it’s perfect.”
The company has planned staff schedules to ensure customers will still receive a full five-day service.
Managing Director Lincoln Smith said: “We’ve seen some remarkable benefits from our trial. Staff turnover dropped by nearly 67 per cent compared to the same period last year, and job applications increased by 250 per cent when we advertised positions with the four-day week benefit.”
The four-day week concept has been gaining momentum nationally, with data from 4dayweek.co.uk showing that 92 per cent of companies that trial the approach continue with it – also reporting increased revenue, reduced staff turnover, greater ability to attract talent, and reduced employee burnout.
Custom Heat plans to review the programme’s success in September with hopes of making the summer four-day week a permanent annual arrangement.
