Want to make your staff happier and more productive? Try getting them to work fewer hours | Claire Hall

I was in a six-month trial for the four-day week - it transformed people's spare time and their working life

I'm interested in any idea that makes staff happier and more productive, because I work in HR. But until last year I hadn't given a lot of thought to asking people to work less. When I first heard about the idea of a four-day week, I have to admit I thought it sounded a bit too good to be true. When we gave it a try, though, my teams and I thought it was a huge success.

Last year, from July to December, Citizens Advice Gateshead - where I work - was one of 61 companies, comprising about 2,900 workers, who took part in a six-month trial run by the 4 Day Week campaign. So far we've been continuing with the trial as our staff have found it so rewarding. We want conversations to continue so that staff are thinking about how they can improve their work-life balance and what we can do to support them.

Claire Hall is head of HR and agile working at Citizens Advice Gateshead