Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday… you know the rest. The 40-hour, five-day workweek defines our modern time—and our literal time, too. Thanks to the global economy, this U.S.-codified schedule is widely accepted. But is it widely appreciated?
We’re here to discuss that. For the past three years, The Thomas Collective has implemented a four-day workweek during the summer months. Like other businesses, we’ve noticed a positive effect from the change. Here are our top four lessons on using the four-day workweek to be more productive in the office and at home.
#1 Be More Productive with Less Time
Studies show that shorter workweeks tend to yield higher employee productivity. Our team’s findings relay the same consensus, thanks to less burnout and better work-life balance. Shorter weeks and longer weekends mean more engaged employees who produce the same—if not more—work in less time.
#2 Adapt to Meet Deadlines
Adjusting timelines is a must. A project scoped to take six weeks still has the same amount of work, so how do we complete it with fewer hours? By planning ahead and understanding the project checkpoints we need to reach by certain dates.
Communication is as important as ever in maximizing the benefits of a four-day workweek. As a business collaborating with clients who are still working five days, we adapt our schedules and prioritize the necessities to continue producing effective work.
#3 Learn to Prioritize Meetings
The saying is true—many meetings can be emails. But when we need to get face-to-face, we make sure our meetings are succinct and goal-driven. We aim for maximum productivity by proactively understanding the meeting’s purpose and having materials prepared beforehand.
More productive meetings mean better time usage—instead of talking about the work, we’re actually doing it. Cutting down on meetings allows us to save time and concentrate better by working without interruption.
#4 Happier People = More Engaged Employees
Sundays become a lot less scary when you have two Saturdays. We spend our extra day on the weekend in different ways, but it always guarantees us a more positive outlook on the coming Monday. Our People First culture aligns with the philosophy of the four-day workweek; a happier employee works smarter and harder. With a better work-life balance, we come to the office engaged and invested in the day.
Businesses are experimenting with the four-day workweek across the world. Higher productivity and happier employees seem to be the common thread, which results in longer tenure and more successful business. With efficiency and employee satisfaction at its core, the four-day workweek is bound to make a lasting impression.
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