Seven in 10 (70%) Irish professionals state that the current 40-hour work week doesn't suit them and a majority (53%) believe a four-day week would improve productivity, according to new research from Robert Walters.

A further third (36%) of respondents said that greater flexibility could be the answer to increasing productivity and engagement levels as employees reject traditional working patterns.

“The conventional 40-hour workweek which has remained largely unchanged for over a century, is now facing an uncertain future," said Suzanne Feeney, country manager of Robert Walters Ireland.

"This highlights a growing discontentment that employers must urgently acknowledge and work to rectify.”

Globally, the rate of employee engagement sits at 23%, but it is much lower in both Europe (13%) and Ireland (10%).

The Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) recently found that Irish professionals work longer hours than their European peers while generating less value per hour.

Since July, employers in Greece have been allowed to extend their office’s working week to 48 hours or six days to tackle issues with labour productivity.

Some 44% of Irish companies have noted productivity becoming more of a problem in the past year, and a quarter (25%) would be open to extending the work week to improve performance.

However, 85% of professionals would leave if their employer did so, and 84% predict significant changes ahead for the work week as they know it.

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When asked how they think it will change, 41% stated that increased flexibility will continue to alter it, a further quarter said it will evolve as a result of small incremental changes, and 18% predicted a complete overhaul taking place.

"With economic tensions and the cost of living still high as global labour markets remain in recovery from the pandemic and various ongoing geopolitical conflicts, there is considerable upheaval which will continue having an impact on the way we see our working week," said Feeney.

“Whilst the conventional, 40-hour work week is going nowhere, yet – flexibility is something that is not only valued greatly by the majority of professionals but something that is increasingly expected as a given.

"The key thing for employers to do now is to test out what works best for their employees in a way which means everyone can maximise their week, without missing out on valuable hours of work."

*This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.