Are you tired of the traditional 9-to-5 grind? Do you wish you had more time to spend with loved ones, pursue personal interests, and have a healthier work-life balance?
At D2 Branding, our decision to only work 28 hours a week has transformed our team’s happiness, productivity and overall success.
Several years ago, my goal was simple: to have Fridays off. The idea of spending more quality time with family, tackling personal errands, and finding more time to relax was super exciting to me. After implementing the four-day work week at D2, I realized it was actually a game-changer for everyone involved, not just me.
The decision to switch to a four-day work week was backed by research from Henley Business School, which revealed remarkable results. Their data showed that 78% of employers reported that their employees were less stressed, and an impressive 75% claimed their teams were happier with the new schedule.
Our approach to the shortened work week is unique. Instead of squeezing extra hours into four days, we adhere to a 28-hour work week, with team members required to be on a Zoom call at 8:45 am, and then work until 4:00 pm, Monday to Thursday. This schedule allows our team members to leave work early, avoiding traffic and gaining valuable extra time for themselves and their families. We don’t have any team calls on Fridays, but if one of our team members decides they still need to work or meet with a client on that day, they can!
After running a business for many years, I’ve found that working longer hours doesn’t equal more productivity. Our focus has shifted away from just clocking in hours to just getting the job done efficiently. Additionally, our team works way better if each of them manage their own schedules individually. We try to avoid micromanaging at all costs!
Some people might argue that a schedule like this is only good for super small companies or startups, but we are a million dollar digital agency with many, many clients and it works for us! With streamlined processes and a performance-based approach, we’ve developed a winning formula for success.
If the idea of a four-day work week is interesting to you, I suggest starting with a 60-day trial. Use this time to evaluate how productivity and employee satisfaction are affected. Most importantly, focus on maximizing your working hours by eliminating any tasks that aren’t necessary.
Being in charge of your business means setting your own rules. When clients request meetings on Fridays, we simply tell them about our policy, and no one has issues with it! You set the rules when it’s your business.
Shifting to a 4-day work week has undoubtedly impacted our team culture in a positive way. I’ve seen our team members have a higher morale, more job satisfaction and a sense of loyalty to our company. By embracing the changing demands of the modern workplace, we’ve created a better company to work for and to hire!
So, if you’re trying to make a positive change in your workplace, why not give the 28-hour work week a try? Your team might just thank you for it!
