MANPOWER SERBIA: WE SAID "YES" TO 4 WORKING DAYS A WEEK

"Since 2020, Manpower Serbia has been operating as an independent cluster for Southeast Europe, offering more flexible business models. Therefore, in October 2021, Manpower Serbia started its pilot project of a four-day workweek with the aim of reducing working hours to make employees happier, healthier, and more engaged.

During the pilot project, research was conducted, allowing for a decision on the long-term implementation of the project based on measurable data. Consequently, Manpower Serbia is pleased to announce that the four-day workweek project has been permanently adopted, and the process of adapting to the new business model will be a constant in increasingly dynamic business conditions.

Why was the concept of a four-day workweek adopted?

Greater employee motivation, agility, mental health, responsibility, higher service quality, better performance, and process digitalization are key aspects of the new business chapter for Manpower SEE.

Research and analysis results in Serbia during the pilot project indicate:

Higher employee engagement and productivity, with 90.5% of employees stating they feel empowered to perform their tasks more efficiently;
Improved work-life balance, with 97% of employees reporting a positive impact on their work-life balance;
91% of employees strongly agree that they see their future career path within Manpower SEE (compared to 75% before the pilot project);
The new working regime will also contribute to the environmental aspect of business, as energy consumption will be reduced;
Enhanced attractiveness to new talent;
The need for one team member to be on standby during the fifth non-working day to ensure continuity of business with clients and partners;
Motivation for other companies to undertake similar actions that focus on their employees.

Shorter company lifespans, increased flexibility, higher turnover, greater value of intellectual property compared to tangible assets lead to experiences for which there is no clear business history. Employees increasingly seek reasons why they do something (purpose), which requires additional company capacities. Previously, leadership positions were defined by clear, specific roles, but today, authenticity of leaders and companies is a crucial value. Traditional companies are losing the battle for young talent, as the global trend shows that young people increasingly want to work in startups and tech companies, making it every company's task to find a personalized way to become an attractive employer.

""In an era where human capital is becoming increasingly important and valuable, we have a responsibility to care not only for our employees and processes but also for the employees and processes of many other companies. As leaders in our industry, we prioritize 'storydoing' and constantly initiate waves of positive change. We look forward to sharing our experience with the four-day workweek project and other legal entities to collectively bring the labor market of Serbia and the region closer to the most competitive European markets,"" said Aleksandar Hangimana, Managing Partner, Manpower SEE.

""As work processes become more complex due to many new topics on companies' agendas, key words such as transformation, CEO 2, psychological safety, inclusion, cultural intelligence, and the impact of company work on the business environment emerge. Guided by employee care and innovation, Manpower Serbia has made a bold move to a four-day workweek, which, we hope, will prompt other legal entities to rethink their work models,"" said Aleksandar Plavšin, Head of Marketing and Communications, Manpower Serbia.

""From a legal perspective, the four-day workweek project represents a benefit for all employees, as Manpower Serbia, from the employer's perspective, provides all employees with greater rights than those defined by legal regulations, ensuring that employees retain all their rights as if they were working in a five-day workweek system,"" said Srđan Botorić, Head of Legal Department, Manpower Serbia.

""We are witnessing an increase in the overall turnover rate, which worries us and engages us in a race that we run only in the long run - how to attract new candidates, but also retain our employees? The answer is very simple - the quality of organizational culture, company values, and employer authenticity, which perfectly describes the four-day workweek project,"" said Lana Mučalov, Regional Research Manager, Assert International.

For more information, feel free to contact us at [email protected]."