All 430 employees can now opt to work 34 hours per week over four days, while getting paid the same amount as they were when previously working 37.5 hours per week.

Mondays or Fridays are the default days off for the majority of employees, except for those working in operational and services roles, whose day out of the office may vary to ensure a continuous and uninterrupted level of service for the bank’s customers.

The change was implemented on 1st November following a review of multiple factors — including productivity, effectiveness, available resources, and impact on external partners and stakeholders — which confirmed there would be no risks to customer service or operations.

“We feel the time is right for the next evolution in the world of work,” said Mark Mullen, CEO at Atom Bank.

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“Since March 2020, Atom, along with almost all workplaces around the world, has had to adapt rapidly to new ways of working.

“We now know that many jobs can be done as efficiently and productively from peoples’ own homes as from the office, but why stop there? More can be done — more needs to change.

“A four-day week will provide our employees with more opportunities to pursue their passions, spend time with their families, and build a healthier work/life balance. 

“We firmly believe that this will prove beneficial for our employees’ wellbeing and happiness and that it will have an equally positive impact on business productivity and customer experience.

“With Covid-19 causing vast numbers of people to reconsider how they want to live their lives, anything that leads to more productive, healthier and happier colleagues is a win for everyone.”