The epidemic necessitated a rapid, non-negotiable shift to remote work for many in the workforce, and this trend is here to stay.
What do these shifts actually look like? First, people in the workplace want more leeway to express their individuality. In the meantime, businesses are being pushed to up their game. Companies that want to avoid The Great Resignation and instead lean into what we call The Great Realization should focus on pay, perks, and flexibility.
The four-day workweek is one of the many new benefits to work-life balance that many businesses are experimenting with, and employees everywhere are reaping its rewards. Moreover, there is a routes for sale marketplace where you can find different routes for sale.
Here are some examples of businesses that have adopted a four-day workweek schedule. You can invest in these businesses or implement some of their strategies into your own 4-day-a-week business.
Uncharted
This group fighting for social causes is proof that the tech industry isn’t the only one reshaping the traditional 9-to-5 schedule. In an effort to help their workers find a better work-life balance, Uncharted instituted a seasonal 32-hour workweek in June 2020, in addition to offering hybrid and remote work arrangements.
Companies are being shaken up by the Great Resignation and are being forced to look inward to determine how to make their staff happy. The groundwork is being built for a revolution as profound as the Industrial Revolution of a century ago. This presents a chance for businesses to rethink their approaches to workplace flexibility and make significant changes.
thredUp
The online retailer and garment exchange is revolutionizing the used clothing industry and the way its employees do their jobs. thredUp, based in San Francisco, now accepts applications for remote and hybrid positions and started offering a four-day workweek in 2021.
Panasonic
The electronics and technology manufacturer, which has been in business for more than a century, decided in January 2022 to provide a four-day workweek with an extra day off each week for employees.
Nectafy
The marketing and content creation firm Nectafy, which specializes in B2B clients, implemented a 32-hour workday in anticipation of the 2020 pandemic. To date, Nectafy has operated entirely with remote staff.
Goosechase
Goosechase, a firm focused on entertaining users, developed an app that facilitates scavenger hunts in the physical world using mobile devices. Although the company recognizes some difficulties for customer-facing employees, they have found the benefits to greatly outweigh any drawbacks and expect to continue with the four-day workweek that was launched in June 2021.
G2i
G2i has a powerful remote network that it uses to link startups and mid-stage companies with web and mobile developers. They tried a four-day workweek and chose to keep it since it helps create a more relaxed and productive workplace.
The Great Resignation continues, and now both sides are using their willingness to bend as a bargaining chip. Job-seekers aren’t only wanting higher pay now; they also want a work-life balance, which might mean anything from a four-day workweek and flexible scheduling to paid parental leave and other perks.
DNSFilter
DNSFilter is both a global startup accelerator geared toward assisting entrepreneurs and a cloud-based web-content filtering and threat security service for IT professionals and managed service providers. They have entirely remote positions available at this time and have a policy of a three-day weekend every other week, effective October 2021.
Buffer
In the wake of the epidemic, Buffer swiftly adopted a four-day workweek beginning in May 2020 and switched to remote hiring. To this day, the social media management and software firm remain committed to its original goal of assisting businesses in reaching a wider audience and filling a variety of roles around the country.
Bolt
Bolt is an e-commerce payment platform that aspires to streamline, expedite, ethically, and securely manage online payments. These values permeate every aspect of the company, from operations to employee treatment. As of the first of the year 2022, all Bolt employees would have Fridays off.
Basecamp
Basecamp’s goods and services are intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations elsewhere. They pioneered the remote worker concept ten years ago and now offer a four-day workweek during the warmer months.
The advantages of a four-day workweek for both employers and workers
Companies and workers have reaped the advantages of switching to a four-day workweek: greater employee loyalty, higher productivity, and better results.
Retention
After just pay, flexibility is one of the most influential retention-boosting needs. In the end, people want employment that provides them with more than just a paycheck; they want the freedom and independence that comes with doing their own thing at work. We’ve found that 63 percent of companies that do a good job of satisfying those needs have an easier time attracting and retaining employees.
Productivity boost
There is some truth to the adage that more hours in the office means less output. Microsoft tried out a four-day, 32-hour workweek in Japan and found that productivity increased by 40% despite workers being on the clock for 20% fewer hours. One benefit the company noticed was that workers took fewer sick days. Another was that workers were generally happier and more productive in the office. Microsoft Japan has therefore taken the step of permanently adopting a four-day workweek.
Reduced expenses
How businesses use the four-day workweek can significantly affect the bottom line. Giving everyone a three-day weekend is a total of 72 hours per week when nothing gets done. That means less money spent on utilities, less time wasted on maintenance, and maybe even fewer sick days. It also helps cut down on the price of the perks that are offered, such as free food. While experimenting with a four-day workweek, Microsoft Japan was able to cut monthly costs by 23% in electricity expenses.
Conclusion
Companies are being shaken up by the Great Resignation and are being forced to look inward to determine how to make their staff happy. The groundwork is being built for a revolution as profound as the Industrial Revolution of a century ago. This presents a chance for businesses to rethink their approaches to workplace flexibility and make significant changes.
