Latest news with #SummerHours
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Scotsman
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Summer Hours by Alessandra Thom review: 'a fascinating knot of relationships'
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It may only be 150 pages long, but Alessandra Thom's Tardis-like debut novel makes an outsize impression - it's the kind of book you'll worry away at in your mind for weeks after you've read it, like a pebble in your pocket. Alessandra Thom | Laura Jane Hegarty Why the disproportionately lengthy afterglow? Partly it's the vivid-yet-impressionistic picture it paints of Edinburgh during a heatwave - a shimmering, mirage-like take on a city which is more typically portrayed as dark and grey, a place which, as the author points out, "suits the rain". Partly it's the intriguingly nuanced portrayal of the inner life of its 20-something protagonist, Roisin, who seems to drift along in a dream-like state of disconnectedness only occasionally punctured by moments of intense, knife-like emotion. And partly it's the way in which Summer Hours manages to effortlessly distil many of the challenges faced by Generation Z-ers into the life of one young woman, struggling to make sense of a world in which there doesn't seem to be an obvious place for her. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When we first meet Roisin she is sitting in an empty bath in her flat with her childhood friend Eve, drinking wine and eating strawberry laces while the sun pours in through the window, and in just a handful of pages Thom expertly seeds all the various tensions that will shape the course of the novel. We learn that Roisin has just lost her job at a cafe on Leith Walk, after being sacked for sleeping through a shift; that Eve has been staying with her for "a couple of months", after falling out with her parents; that Roisin's flatmate Cal has a "proper job", is no fan of Eve and wants her gone; and that Roisin is in no rush for her friend to move out. Indeed, there's every sign that Roisin is infatuated with Eve, perhaps even a little in love with her. Eve though, has a boyfriend and - more importantly for Eve and Roisin's friendship - that boyfriend has a twin sister called Clare, a wealthy, married "self-defined free spirit" who makes Roisin feel "very young and very small". Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To say much more about the plot would be a disservice; suffice to say that Thom displays great skill in tangling her characters up in a fascinating knot of relationships - some sexual, some platonic, some hovering in the deliciously ambiguous no-man's land in between. Along the way, she also asks important questions about the extent to which all relationships are in some way transactional - perhaps more so now than ever, in a world where the gulf between rich and poor yawns ever wider. It's a horrible cliché to put at the end of a review, but it really will be interesting to see what Thom writes next.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Thousands of UK workers given 'summer Friday' hours and can finish work early
An analysis of broadband data has found that there is an 8 per cent decline in traffic at 3-5pm on Fridays during the summer compared with winter - and the reason is more than valid A surge of UK employees are being granted 'summer Friday ' hours, allowing them to knock off work early. The trend, which sees workers subtly extending their weekends during the summer months, has been highlighted by recent research. Telecoms giant Virgin Media 's analysis of broadband data reveals an 8 per cent drop in traffic between 3-5pm on Fridays during the summer compared to winter. One in five (20 per cent) of the 1,000 individuals surveyed by the broadband firm admitted that while their company didn't have a formal 'summer Friday' policy, it had become an unspoken rule to wrap up work early before the weekend. In other news, an exciting heatwave forecast with maps revealing the exact date a 39C heat plume will scorch the UK. READ MORE: 'I switched my perfume to a cheaper alternative - and I've never had so many compliments' ASOS The online fashion retailer permits its staff to clock out at 3pm on Fridays from June through August, reports Birmingham Live. Gary Cookson, director of Epic HR, pointed out that this trend isn't new and existed even before remote working became commonplace. "I remember in my first job we would go for a pub lunch at 1pm on Friday, stay until 2pm and then spend the last couple of hours of the afternoon doing barely any work and leaving by 4pm," he recalled. Kellanova Kellanova, the parent company of Kellogg's and Pringles, is implementing its "Summer Hours" scheme for the 22nd consecutive year, running from 2 May to 26 September. Office-based employees are permitted to finish from 12pm on Fridays, while field sales team members can clock off at the same time on any day of the week. Speaking about the trend, Clare Kelliher, professor of work and organisation at Cranfield University, clarified that being offline didn't automatically mean employees weren't grafting: "Depending upon the nature of the job, some activities may be better done when offline and individuals may choose to do these at times when they expect online activity to be quieter; for example, Friday afternoons." Penguin Random House Publishing giant Penguin Random House permits workers to clock off at 1pm on Fridays throughout the summer period. This follows research revealing that three in five (61 per cent) believed they had 'earned the right' to knock off early following a hectic week, whilst 59 per cent admitted they felt no guilt whatsoever about doing so. Additionally, 63 per cent claimed they were more efficient earlier in the week knowing they could wrap up early on Friday. Yet not all employees are switching off completely – instead, some are swapping the office for the railway station (15 per cent), the local park (14 per cent) or even the local (10 per cent) before the weekend kicks off. Hachette The publishing house permits workers to finish at 1pm on Fridays. Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO and co-founder of flexible working jobs platform Flexa, revealed she occasionally logs off early or operates from a beer garden during summer, with her team grafting wherever and whenever they fancy within the firm's core hours of 11am to 3pm. The company also runs early finishes of 2pm every Friday. "If staff are covertly finishing earlier and working from different locations, it's either because their company offers fake flexibility or none at all," she said. PwC PwC allows employees to squeeze their working hours and knock off early on Fridays between mid-July and the end of August. A recent survey revealed that nearly half (48 per cent) of those polled were not given permission to finish early on Friday, a third (32 per cent) admitted they did so regularly, with or without approval. Meanwhile, as many as a quarter (24 per cent) confessed they had switched their status to 'active' online to sneakily clock off early on a Friday. Goodman Masson Goodman Masson permits staff to wrap up at 3.30pm on Fridays throughout the entire year. Cookson recognised that secretly logging off early on Fridays might be viewed as a negative trend by some firms. However, he added: "If enough work has been done by Friday early afternoon then does it do much harm? "Maybe it is a sign that a four-day week is achievable for many organisations, without much impact on productivity." Flexa Flexa, a flexible working jobs site, allows staff to work wherever and whenever they fancy. Johnson-Jones, CEO and co-founder of Flexa, commented: "There's a real issue if companies are misleading talent, or don't trust or empower employees to take advantage of flexible working offerings in reality. "There's no issue with working from a beer garden and finishing at 3pm if staff are able to do so effectively and openly in line with company policies."
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
All the firms offering ‘summer Friday' hours where you can finish work early
We reveal which firms are offering the perks below... SUMMER SUN All the firms offering 'summer Friday' hours where you can finish work early Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HOST of UK firms are offering staff the chance to log off early on Fridays this summer. Some businesses provide the perk to reward workers for their efforts throughout the week. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A host of firms are letting staff finish early on Fridays this summer Credit: Alamy Here are some letting employees log off early and make the most of the sunshine in August. ASOS The online clothing retailer lets staff finish at 3pm on Fridays between June and August. There is no set criteria for who can clock off early, but anyone who can doesn't see a drop in salary. Kellanova Kellanova, the company that owns Kellogg's and Pringles, is running its "Summer Hours" programme for the 22nd year in a row, from May 2 to September 26. Office-based workers are allowed to finish from 12pm on Fridays while field sales team staff can clock off at the same time on any day of the week. The programme doesn't apply to anyone who isn't office-based or working in the field sales team. Staff also have to ensure they have completed their contractual hours by making up the hours at other points throughout the week. Penguin Random House Publisher Penguin Random House lets staff finish for the day at 1pm on Fridays over the summer months. But, like Kellanova, workers have to make up the hours throughout the rest of the week and fulfil their contractual obligations. Hachette One of the largest publishing groups in the UK, Hachette, allows staff to finish at 1pm on Fridays. Your rights to request flexible working ALL workers have the legal right to request flexible working. Employees can request a change to: the number of hours they work when they start or finish work the days they work where they work This is known as "making a statutory application". Employees can make a request for flexible working from their first day in a job. Employers then have to deal with these requests in a "reasonable manner". That means they must assess the advantages and disadvantages of the application, discuss any alternatives and offer an appeal process. The types of flexible working you can ask for include job sharing, remote working or working from home, hybrid working or going part-time. For more information, visit The finish work early policy applies to the majority of its staff, with any hours taken off compressed into the rest of the week. PwC Consultancy firm PwC lets workers condense their working hours and finish early on Fridays between mid-July and the end of August. Part-time workers can also finish early on the last day of their working week. Goodman Masson Recruitment firm Goodman Masson lets staff finish at 3.30pm on Fridays throughout the whole year, not just in the summer months. Chief executive officer Guy Hayward said the policy, which was introduced in 2012, had seen "no impact on productivity" and some departments had even seen results improve. Flexa Flexible working jobs site Flexa lets staff work wherever and whenever they want within the business's core working hours of 11am to 3pm. The company also operates early finishes of 2pm on Fridays. What is the minimum wage in the UK? The minimum wage in the UK went up in April. These are the current rates: £12.21 (aged 21 and over) £10 (aged 18 to 20) £7.55 (aged under 18) £7.55 (apprentice rate) Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Telegraph
01-08-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
The proof that remote workers clock off early on Fridays
Remote workers are clocking off at 3pm on a Friday, claiming they deserve to enjoy the summer, data has revealed. There is an an 8pc dip in internet traffic between 3-5pm at the end of the week during the summer months compared with the winter, broadband data released by Virgin Media showed. At the same time nearly 61pc of workers think they have earned the right to log off early after four days of work. The same survey by Virgin Media revealed that one in 10 admitted taking their laptops to the pub to get their weekend started early. However, the majority (59pc) don't feel any guilt giving themselves an early clock-off, and believed dropping a few hours on a Friday makes them work harder during the week. It comes amid struggling public sector productivity, which fell by 0.3pc in 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics. The Telegraph revealed in April that more than 2,000 public sector workers were allowed to work from foreign countries. Yet the majority of civil servants believe remote working has had a positive impact on Whitehall, according to a survey by YouGov. Bosses have started to order staff back to the office, with companies such as Amazon requesting five days a week in person. Yet despite this, councils and charities are trialling four-day weeks with no pay reduction, with supporters claiming it can deliver more efficient working and attract better candidates for jobs. This month South Cambridgeshire became the first council to permanently adopt a four-day week last week, including for bin collectors, council tax administrators and social housing officials. It is understood that as many as 25 councils are in talks with the Four Day Week Foundation, the campaign pushing for the change, despite warnings that reduced working hours do not represent the best possible value for money for residents and taxpayers. In January the Four Day Week Foundation announced that 200 UK companies had signed up for a permanent four-day week. Separately, an investigation by The Telegraph found that charities were reducing the working hours of their staff. Non-profit businesses making the change include the British Red Cross, which received £32m in government funding last year. It is trialling compressed hours, allowing some UK-based staff to work 32 hours rather than 35 a week. If passed into law Labour's Employment Rights Bill will make the right to request flexible working the 'default', building on reforms under the previous Tory government that made flexible working available from the first day in a job. Data from LinkedIn showed that 40pc of jobs advertised across the UK last November were hybrid roles, compared to fewer than one in three postings in Germany and France offering some sort of remote working. LinkedIn said it was 'highly likely' that Britain would remain the capital of working from home in Europe for the foreseeable future. Jeanie York, of Virgin Media O2, said: 'Our network traffic analysis is revealing changing workplace habits in real time as the nation takes advantage of long summer Fridays.'
