A recruitment firm is set to take the plunge into the four-day working week

Killian Woods on business

Above: Margaret Cox, director of Ice Group (centre) pictured with staff members after announcing a four-day week in the company. Mike Shaughnessy

There’s been a lot of noise about the “four-day working week” concept in recent months. After the Parental Leave Bill 2017 was passed in May, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall said there needs to be a “serious debate” in Ireland about work-life balance.

Shortall’s argument was that parents are essentially using unpaid leave allowance to work four-day weeks already, which means it’s time to put the idea of a four-day working week on ...