July 8th 2024.
The response from my staff has been overwhelmingly positive. If I were to tell you that my team is currently the most productive they have ever been, you might wonder how I managed to make them work even harder. With 1,300 employees spread across 17 offices around the world, I am proud to say that they are now reporting the highest level of job satisfaction. And the best part? They are achieving this while working a four-day week, but still being paid for five.
You might be wondering how this is possible. How can the same amount of work be done in less time? Well, that's precisely why I believe other companies should give the four-day working week a try. Our results speak for themselves. As the CEO of a digital marketing platform, our main goal is to help brands sell their goods and services online through digital advertising based on performance. In 2021 alone, we managed to drive a staggering £12 billion worth of sales for our clients. With such high demands, it's crucial for my colleagues to be at the top of their game.
However, when the pandemic hit in 2020, everything changed. As we shifted to remote work, we saw the immense pressure placed on our employees, especially those with children who had to juggle homeschooling as well. The lines between work and home life became blurred, and people started working longer hours. It was clear that something had to change.
That's when we introduced the concept of "Family Fridays." This meant that every Friday afternoon, our business would shut down, and our staff would have time to spend with their families and deal with the challenges brought on by Covid-19. Even for those without families, it was a chance to take a break and catch up with the outside world. The response from our employees was overwhelmingly positive, and after monitoring their performance for three months, we saw that the initiative had no negative impact. In fact, our company was doing even better, and our employees were happier. So, we decided to take it a step further and test it out for a longer period.
In January 2021, we launched a six-month trial of a four-day working week, with our employees still being paid for five days of work. We left it up to them to figure out the schedule that would work best for their team while still maintaining a five-day service. Some took Fridays off, some Wednesdays, and others Mondays, and it was on a rotating basis. But what was truly remarkable was that not only were we able to maintain the same level of work, but our productivity actually increased.
We were so impressed with the results that we extended the trial for another year, and it has now become a permanent feature of our company. The record-breaking performances and increase in staff happiness were undeniable. We even noticed a decrease in sick days taken. It might not make sense logically, but by giving our employees more time for themselves, they were able to work smarter and be more productive.
It was a win-win situation. We were giving them the greatest incentive of all - time, and they were using it to do things that made them happier and, in turn, work better. Some pursued further education, others focused on exercise, and some spent it with their families. It was incredible to see how they used their extra free day to enrich their lives.
But don't just take my word for it. Our most recent staff surveys showed that 86% of our employees feel more productive, 70% feel less stressed, and 70% believe the quality of their work has improved. Moreover, 92% reported an improvement in their mental health, 94% saw an improvement in their work-life balance, and 87% said it helped their physical health. These are numbers that speak for themselves.
It's no surprise that 74% of our employees say they would now struggle to go back to a traditional five-day week. And why should they? Our employee retention has never been better. As an employer, it's essential to show your staff that you care, and that's exactly what we did. Trust was the foundation of our relationship with our employees, and it made all the difference. So many companies operate from a place of mistrust, believing that their employees are trying to slack off. But if you don't trust your employees, this concept won't work.
For companies that do operate with trust, this is a phenomenal way to give back freedom and balance in their employees' lives while still maintaining great performance at work. Most people want to do a good job, and we need to stop setting rules based on the few who don't. The majority of our staff want to progress in life, and given the chance, they will find ways to work better and smarter. That's why our clients have reported a 25% increase in their satisfaction rate with us. They were not only accepting of this change, but some even brought their bosses to meetings to convince them to consider implementing a four-day week.
Life has changed drastically since the five-day working week was introduced in the 19th century. It's time for us to change with it. Do you have a similar story to share? Please do get in touch. I would love to hear from you. And don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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