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Four day work week Companies and governments around the world are gaining momentum as they work. Away from reducing the work hours, this model prioritizes efficiency and welfare of workers, Considering them to work for a long time, keeping them in mind their full salary.
This movement has demonstrated real and tangible benefits, inspired by global changes during the Covid-19 epidemic and supported by organizations like 4 Day Week Global Increase in productivity, improving mental health, and a better work-life balance. Tests in countries such as Iceland, UK and New Zealand have established an example, inspirational companies from all places to reconsider traditional working methods.
A small workwear
However, to be suited to this model requires re -defying workflows, adjusting expectations and controlling cultural resistance, especially in areas associated with more rigorous schedules and more rigorous operating demands. Despite this, the success of the first tests is a deep change in the workplace culture, where flexibility and productivity are preferred.
One of the first experiments came in 2019, when Microsoft Japan Tested a four-day work week as part of his “Work-Life Choice Challenge”, The use resulted in an increase of 40%in productivity, power consumption decreased by 23%, and paper use decreased by 58%. More than 90% of the employees reported better work-life balance. Despite the positive results, the company did not permanently adopt the model, but left it as positive, although the temporary, example of innovation in the workplace.
This experiment of Microsoft Japan was one of the important studies before the four -day week. Since then, many other organizations around the world have adopted and optimized this model in different ways. In the following paragraph, we will find some of these Global matter study To see how they performed with the approach of this small working week, examined their motivations, strategies and impact on their employees and businesses.
How Dasana strengthened the work-life balance
The tenna is an open-source cyber security company located in the United States, whose mission is to reduce cautious noise in Cloud. Through its platform, tenna can swallow alert from any provider, automatically make them relevant and give them priority, allowing security teams to focus on what really matters.
Inspiration for change
Dasana adopted four-day week adopted Give your employees a real break. The company felt that, with a two-day weekend, their free time was spent most of the time by domestic work and adult life obligations, preventing them from disconnecting completely from work. To compete with this trend, he decided to offer an additional day of rest, To allow employees to better use personal time not only to recover their energy, but also without compromising productivity.
How it was implemented
The company structured to operate its working week only from Monday to Thursday, There is no reduction in salary. The transition was based on three main strategies:
- Centered workday: Employees work for four highly productive days rather than spreading more than five functions, reducing accumulated fatigue.
- Extended weekend: A long brake allows employees to recharge, improve job satisfaction and overall welfare.
- Continuous performance: The model ensures that productivity remains more, offering more flexibility and balance.
Dasana continues to promote a flexible working model, leading to more autonomy to employees in their time management, although it has dropped the four -day work week model.
How does a Portugal technology company embrace Chhoti Workwack
Randtech Computing is a software development company located in Porto, Portugal, which specializes in technical solutions for the insurance area. It participated in the four -day week pilot project in Portugal, an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of solidarity and the Social Security, including 41 companies and more than 1,000 workers. Studies conducted by researchers at Birkbeck Business School, University of London and Henley Business School, University of Reading have shown that to reduce work hours Without compromising productivity, benefit both companies and employees.
Inspiration for change
The company decided to test a four -day week to improve employee satisfaction and attract new talents in a highly competitive sector. The challenges facing it required to adapt internal processes without compromising high team stress, difficulties maintaining talent and customer help.
How it was implemented
Randtech Computing adopted a flexible model, allowing employees permission Choose a day time per weekGuarantee of continuity of services. The transition was based on three main strategies:
- Process Reorganization: To reduce the number of meetings and adapt the workflows to reduce downtime.
- Adopting technical equipment: Implementation of management software and asynchronous communication to improve cooperation and efficiency.
- Team participation: The active participation of the employees in defining the model, ensuring that the change did not result in the convenience as a result of the change.
With this strategic approach, Randtech Computing displayed that the four -day week can be successfully implemented in the technology sector, which strengthens the importance of innovation and flexibility in the work organization. His experience contributes to the growing evidence that this model is viable and can change the Portuguese labor market.
Workwack usage of Shopify during epidemic
Shopify, a technology company based in Canada, is one of the leading Omnichannel commerce platforms, allowing entrepreneurs to store, configure and manage many sales channels such as web, mobile, social network, marketplace and physical stores.
Inspiration for change
In 2020, during the Kovid -19 epidemic, Shopify saw that the employees were under more mental pressure and at the same time, taking a low holiday.
To compete with stress and improve the good of the team, the company decided to reduce weekly charge 32 hours during summer, temporarily adopting a four -day week. In addition, he had already practiced policy No meeting WednesdayPermission for extended blocks of time for concentrated work.
How it was implemented
Shopify implemented a four -day week during summer of 2020, while maintaining Full pay for employeesThe model includes:
- On Friday: The company on Friday closed on Friday as a way to make up for additional mental loads in terms of epidemic.
- No meeting Wednesday: To ensure the duration of uninterrupted work and increase productivity.
- Pay attention to welfare: The initiative came as a response to the fact that employees were taking less leave, helping to balance professional and personal life.
Shopify gives importance to flexibility at work and optimizes productivity. There is a policy of a meeting on Wednesday An ongoing practiceStrengthening the company’s commitment to a skilled and low -loving work environment.
Who is the lead of the four -day Workwack Movement?
loan
A global affiliate marketing network that adopted a four-day week in 2023. The change resulted in 13% more profit and 33% less turnover. Employees reported better welfare and productivity.
The ‘Flexi-Veek’ model helped the company to maintain talent and improve performance. Planning, communication and technology were important for success.
base camp
The leading software company in remote working, adopts a four -day week during summer. From May to August, employees work 32 hours a week, without compensation without short hours.
The goal is to provide more free time without compromising productivity while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
screw
A San Francisco e-commerce startup that implemented a four-day week in 2021. The objective was to build a permanent, high -performing working model.
The company reduced the meetings and adapted the workflow. The rotating schedule ensured continuous operation. Employees reported more attention and inspiration, while productivity stabilized or increased.
kick
Kickstarter adopted a four-day week in 2021 to improve the work-life balance. Employees reported more creativity, engagement and satisfaction. The company rely on Team Trust and clear communication to maintain productivity.
After one year, it adjusted the model to adjust the holidays without affecting the performance.
MRL Consulting Group
The global recruitment company permanently adopted the four-day week after a successful test in 2019. Productivity increased by 25%, absence fell to 40%and retention reached 95%.
Employees reported more attention, better mental welfare and more comfort with the extended weekends. The model proved to be a win-win for both the team and the business.
Panasonic
Japanese offers multinational employees a four -day week option to employees to promote more diverse work styles. It also encourages distance work and allows employees to choose whether to accept transfer to other cities.
The initiative wants to improve flexibility and quality of life without compromising productivity.
Software delsol
The Spanish software company located in JAN was the first in Spain adopting a four-day week in 2020. There was no more salary deduction with a 36-hour week, it saw a decline of 20% in absence and 20% increase in annual growth.
Employees stated more commitment and environment for better work, making the initiative successful.
Is the 4-day work week offering a new paradigm?
These cases highlight the four -day work week capacity to increase the study, improve the welfare of the employee and reduce the employee turnover. However the results can vary from the field to the region, The main conclusion is that with proper planning, clear communication and flexibility, companies can create more durable and effective functioning environment.
As highlighted in our article “Create a mental health-friendly task environment“, Preferring mental health in the workplace is necessary to maintain a happy, engaged and productive workforce.
Data shows that the four -day function week, when combined with focus on mental health, can be a viable solution for the future of the work, benefit both organizations and their employees!
