Do you know anyone who has opted to be on a three day week recently?

[He3]

Brian Lenihan went out of his way to suggest that a lot of people have been voluntarily opting to work three day weeks when answering questions about the continuing rise in unemployment today.

Do P.ie posters know if there is any basis for this claim in reality?

[Sync]

Yeah a few factory workers, and I know a few manufacturing firms who did it. It's mostly blue collar, but I know a solicitors firm that went from 3 admins to 2 by staggering their days in the office.

[SideysGhost]

Yeah a few factory workers, and I know a few manufacturing firms who did it. It's mostly blue collar, but I know a solicitors firm that went from 3 admins to 2 by staggering their days in the office.

Voluntarily? Or did Management say "Yer all on a three day week lads, it's that or shut the doors"?

[Sync]

In the firm's case it was a choice between time sharing or cutting 1 of them. You're really getting into a game of semantics if you think Lenihan meant random people were just offering, unprompted, to cut their wages and time in the office regardless of how the company was doing.

[eoghanacht]

Voluntarily? Or did Management say "Yer all on a three day week lads, it's that or shut the doors"?

Anyone i know got that treatment. Mainly office and factory workers.

[SideysGhost]

In the firm's case it was a choice between time sharing or cutting 1 of them. You're really getting into a game of semantics if you think Lenihan meant random people were just offering, unprompted, to cut their wages and time in the office regardless of how the company was doing.

Bollocks, as usual.

Lenihan on the Six One was clearly and unambiguously implying that people were volunteering to go on three day weeks, as if it was some sort of layabout lifestyle choice.

Inveterate liars, anyone associated with this filthy regime.

[Tin Foil Hat]

Brian Lenihan went out of his way to suggest that a lot of people have been voluntarily opting to work three day weeks when answering questions about the continuing rise in unemployment today.

Do P.ie posters know if there is any basis for this claim in reality?

I know a few people on a three day week. One was offered to upgrade to a full 5 day week, but refused the offer. People on low to average wages don't lose out much by being on a three day week - maybe €20-€30 per week of take home pay. It can be a sweet deal for some people, particularly if they have a partner who is on a good income.
The dole is calculated on a six day week so, if someone is on a 3 day week they also get 3 days of dole, or 50%.
IMO, the dole needs to recalculated to a 5 day week, so that those on a three day week get 40% of the dole, not 50%.

[Newsy]

Bollocks, as usual.

Lenihan on the Six One was clearly and unambiguously implying that people were volunteering to go on three day weeks, as if it was some sort of layabout lifestyle choice.

Inveterate liars, anyone associated with this filthy regime.

What I understood him to say was that people preferred to work 3 day week to 5 day week.

The man is terribly insulting.

[eoghanacht]

What I understood him to say was that people preferred to work 3 day week to 5 day week.

The man is terribly insulting.

Statistically speaking he's kinda right, on average over a year they couldn't work anymore than 3 days a year. They still aren't back. They pay themselves more and work less than the British parliment and a few others.

Let them eat cake.

[Magror14]

I not only know a person who has opted for a three day week but also someone who took a demotion to go on it.