A note from the Editor Nodyn gan y Golygydd

Are 4-day working weeks the future?

A wythnos gwaith

4-diwrnod yw’r dyfodol?

At Gair Rhydd we take seriously our responsibility to maintain the highest possible standards. We may occasionally make mistakes, however if you believe we have fallen below the standards we seek to uphold, please email gairrhyddeic@gmail.com.

You can view our Ethical Policy Statement and Complaints Procedure at cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/complaints.

Opinions expressed in editorials and opinion pieces are not reflective of Cardiff Student Media, who act as the publisher of Gair Rhydd in legal terms, and should not be considered official communications or the organisation’s stance.

Gair Rhydd is a Post Office registered newspaper.

Pulling a Sickie:.Today is the day that the most people will phone-in sick to work. Image: JESHOOTS.COM (via Wikimedia Commons)

Beth Williams Editor-in-Chief

The 6th of February has been coined as National Sickie Day 2023.

Statistically, the first Monday in February marks the day that most people will phone in sick to work. In 2020, the phenomenon waspredicted to cost employers £45 million in wages. While the physical symptoms may be fabricated, is there more to National Sickie Day that meets the eye?

In a survey, 46% of people revealed the real reason behind their phone call was feeling tired, with 40% saying ‘they just weren’t feeling it’. The cold winter months also mean that mental health plays a role in absences. Is there anything that can be done to protect workers from burn-out, as well as benefit the companies they work for?

The Welsh government is said to be considering a four-day working week, where workers will still receive the same wages as they did for working five days.

MS Jack Sargent, who sits on the Petition’s committee said; ‘People in Wales work some of the longest hours in Europe. Despite these long hours, the UK lags on productivity, once we break that link of ‘hours worked equalling productivity’ we can start to look at a four-day week differently’.

Spain, Scotland, and Ireland are all devising a four-day working week pilot scheme to start next year after the positive results of Iceland’s scheme.

Despite losing a day, encouraging a better work-life balance meant employee productivity was boosted significantly, as well as a general improvement in physical and mental health. The scheme also saw company revenues increase. The environment was also positivley imapcted, with a reduction in commuting decreasing air pollution and lowers carbon emissions.

Almost 75% of UK workers are in favour of a 4-day working week, with 100 companies already signing up for a permanent four-day working week. With 88% of companies in pilot schemes noting positive impacts so far, will a four-day working week be the new normal in Wales?

Tynnu ‘Sickie’: Heddiw ydi’r diwrnod mae’r nifer fwyaf o bobl yn tebygol o ffonio fewn yn sal i’r gwaith Image: JESHOOTS.COM (via Wikimedia Commons)

Beth Williams Prif Olygydd

Mae Chwefror 6ed wedi cael ei alw yn ‘National Sickie Day 2023’. Yn flynyddol, mae Dydd Llun cyntaf y mis yn nodi’r diwrnod mae’r nifer fwyaf o bobl yn ffonio fewn yn sâl i’r gwaith. Yn 2020, wnaeth y ffenomenon gostio £45 miliwn i gyflogwyr. Efallai nad yw’r symptomau corfforol yn wir, ond oes mwy i National Sickie Day?

Mewn holiadur, datganodd 46% o bobl fod y rheswm go iawn du ôl i’w galwad oedd y ffaith oeddynt wedi blino, gyda 40% yn cyfaddef i fod yn ddiamynedd. Mae misoedd oer y Gaeaf hefyd yn golygu fod iechyd meddwl yn chwarae rôl mewn absenoldebau. Oes yno unrhyw beth all gael ei wneud i warchod gweithwyr rhag gorflino, yn ogystal â bod o fydd i’r cwmnïau maent yn gweithio i?

Mae sôn fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried treialu wythnos waith pedwar diwrnod, ble fydd gweithwyr yn parhau i dderbyn yr un cyflog ac maent yn bresennol. Dywedodd yr aelod seneddol Jack Sargent; ‘ Mae pobl yng Nghymru yn gweithio rhai o’r oriau hiraf yn Ewrop. Er yr oriau yma, mae Prydain tuol iddi pan ddaw i gynhyrchi- ant. Unwaith rydym yn chwalu’r meddylfryd fod oriau yn y gwaith yn hafal i gynhyrchiant, allwn gychwyn edrych ar yr wythnos pedwar diwrnod yn wahanol.”

Mae Sbaen, yr Alban ac Iwerddon i gyd yn dyfeisio cynllun peilot wythnos gwaith pedwar diwrnod i’w gychwyn blwyddyn nesaf ar ôl canlyniad positif cynllun Gwlad yr Ia.

Er yn colli diwrnod, wnaeth annog cydbwysedd cartref a’r gwaith mwy iach gynyddu cynhyrchiant cyffredinol gweithwyr, yn ogystal â gwelliannau i iechyd corfforol ac meddyliol. Gwelodd y cynllun incwm y cwmnïau yn gwella drwy hefyd effeithio ar yr amgylchedd, gyda llai o deithio yn lleihau allyriadau carbon.

Mae bron i 75% o weithwyr ym Mhrydain o blaid wythnos weithio pedwar diwrnod, gyda 100 o gwmnïau yn bwriadu fod yn rhan o wythnos waith pedwar diwrnod parhaol. Gyda 88% o gwmnïau mewn cynlluniau peilot yn gweld newidiadau cadarnhaol, a fu’r wythnos waith pedwar diwrnod yn normal newydd i Gymry?