Theatre company announces four-day week plans

A Manchester-based theatre and arts venue will give staff the opportunity to work a four-day week as part of efforts to improve wellbeing.

Contact, which is part of Arts Council England's National Portfolio, has said it will begin a three-month trial in one department next month before rolling it out company-wide for its 35 core staff members from July for a nine-month pilot.

It becomes the second National Portfolio organisation to test out the idea after Birmingham-based Flatpack Festival, which has adopted the concept on a permanent basis following a successful six-month trial last year.

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Keisha Thompson, Chief Executive and Artistic Director at Contact, said that staff had suggested the possibility of a four-day week since before the Covid pandemic.

"This four-day week structure gives us an opportunity to reset our rituals," she said.

"I want us to be honest, set boundaries and try some new things. I'm genuinely excited for what we will discover. It's not going to be easy but I want to find a new modus operandi that benefits us, our participants, our audiences and our work."

Thompson said the new way of working also responds to points made by staff during conversations about cost-of-living pressures.

"While we do not have the ability to offer substantial pay rises this pilot will give staff the equivalent of a 20% rise for a year and more time for them to pursue other interests or work options," she said.

As part of the trial the impact of the change on productivity, budget, staff well-being and audience and participant engagement and satisfaction will all be tracked.

The findings will then be reviewed at the end of next financial year in March 2024.