In case you would have informed me previous to 2020 that CostumeBox would efficiently undertake a totally distant, 4 day workweek for our total crew, I’d have had an excellent chuckle on the thought. Nevertheless, that’s precisely what we’re doing now with nice success, and we’re not alone. In 2022 the transition right into a 4 day workweek has began to construct momentum. Actually, numerous corporations throughout Australia and New Zealand commenced a four-day workweek trial for a six-month pilot final month.
I co-founded CostumeBox with Roma Burke in 2007. CostumeBox is Australia’s one-stop vacation spot for costumes on-line, with the most important vary of dress-up outfits, equipment, and get together provides. I studied archaeology, and Roma had a profitable profession in five-star lodge administration. Our backgrounds didn’t precisely recommend “on-line retailers” nevertheless, CostumeBox’s retail success has been a testomony to our collective love for innovation, customer support, and our passionate and hardworking crew.
Roma and I adopted the four-day workweek, transitioning to a totally distant setup amidst the pandemic in March 2020. We have been actually hours away from signing a five-year lease on new workplace house after we determined to attend and see how the virus advanced. The employees took their desktop computer systems house for “a few weeks”–and the remainder is historical past. Though it was an enormous shift for us to make, our enterprise has positively seen advantages, a key one being that we now make use of expertise from throughout Australia as a substitute of being restricted geographically on account of our workplace being in Sydney.
CostumeBox resides proof that companies can nonetheless function at peak efficiency whereas encouraging flexibility and a wholesome work-life steadiness for his or her employees.
3 Advantages of the 4 Day Workweek
How a totally distant 4 day work week has helped CostumeBox:
1. Elevated morale and adaptability
Analysis reveals that 75% of workers who work a 4 day workweek will not be solely happier but in addition much less confused. That is one thing that we’ve keenly noticed over the previous two years. We conduct our conferences on Zoom, however we additionally communicate with every employees member individually to test in on how they’re feeling and the way we are able to make the working-from-home expertise higher for them. Happier workers enhance morale, one thing that any entrepreneur or enterprise chief is aware of is helpful for his or her crew.
Making the most of distant working to coincide with our four-day work week has finally given our employees extra flexibility. As there isn’t a longer added journey time, the general hours every day are not than after we labored in an workplace setting, but it is just 1.5 hours lower than a regular work week. Our employees loves this further day which they use to loosen up, get pleasure from their hobbies, in addition to have extra time to attach with their household and associates. We’re assured that this flexibility will end in nice employees retention, and for brand spanking new hires, it’s positively interesting to hitch the enterprise.
2. Higher workflow and cohesion
At CostumeBox, all of us work Mondays to Thursdays to optimize workflow and cohesion. At all times being obtainable these 4 days makes scheduling conferences and work between the crew simpler. We elevated every workday by one further hour, so our employees works a 9-hour day, 4 days per week, and they’re nonetheless paid a full-time wage. As a 24/7 on-line retailer, sure capabilities resembling our warehouse and customer support should function 5 days per week, so we use a roster system that rotates days off for these groups between Thursday and Friday.
A brand new working setting for us meant revaluating what is completely important in day-to-day operations. A method we turned extra environment friendly throughout our four-day week is by slicing down on inner conferences. You will need to take a step again and ask your self–does everybody should be on this assembly? How lengthy does this assembly should be? May this be an e-mail as a substitute? Higher use of time has led to elevated productiveness inside our enterprise.
3. A extra energetic and balanced employees
In case your workers will not be prioritizing their well being and well-being, how will a enterprise be sustainable? A distant 4 day workweek gives better alternatives for workers to stay wholesome and balanced, enhancing their total well-being and dealing potential. To fight the shortage of bodily motion that working from house can create, we inspired our crew to maintain transferring. Right here’s how we do it:
- 10-minute crew yoga periods over YouTube 2x per week.
- Standing up for all conferences.
- Encouraging strolling conferences.
- Really useful getting a canine (They’re an excellent purpose to get out of the home and nice firm).
Perhaps it’s time to take into account altering your working setting from a five-day workplace week to a 4 day distant work week. It isn’t all clean crusing, and it’s necessary to place a transparent technique in place to make sure probably the most profitable final result. As the chief of your enterprise, use your personal overarching information and expertise to regulate as crucial primarily based on real-time suggestions and expertise after a trial.
Learn extra: Finest Enterprise Books to Learn (Really useful by Enterprise Leaders)
Get Extra Productiveness Instruments
Transitioning to a 4 day workweek means your crew will want productiveness frameworks to achieve success. Get time-saving blueprints free of charge and discover ways to maximize every hour of the day to construct your enterprise higher.
