Althams Travel MD leads company switch to four-day week

The new approach will begin on 1 April after changes led by managing director Sandra McAllister.

McAllister said the company’s board has first discussed the idea back in 2018 but plans to implement it were put on hold in 2020 due to the pandemic and staff working from home.

“Everybody’s prepared to step it up,” said McAllister. “We didn’t want it to look like it was all give, give, give, I do understand they’ll be some give and take from staff, so we said look, we feel this will be a much better work-life balance for everyone concerned and nearly everyone was onboard with it.”

She admitted some staff members were concerned with the change and that salary would be reduced, however, wages will stay the same despite the decrease in working hours, said McAllister.

“It’s something I’ve been passionate about all my working life," she said. "When I had my two sons, I was watching all my colleagues around me leave because they couldn’t get childcare, and at that stage you couldn’t return as a manager if you weren’t prepared to do full-time.

“I watched really good people go out of the industry, unable to balance work and looking after children. I thought, if I was ever in the position where I could do something about this, I would. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and now I’m in the position I can.”