Future Four-ward (⚡️ June 25, 2021)
As companies continue making their return to workplace plans, some are ditching the industrial era holdovers of what work looks like and experimenting with 4-day work weeks and other flexible programs.
Smart Brevity™ count: 2 mins...534 words
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1 big thing: Future Four-ward
Big picture: As companies continue making their return to workplace plans, some are ditching the industrial era holdovers of what work looks like and experimenting with 4-day work weeks and other flexible programs.
Why it matters: Kickstarter recently announced they will be experimenting with a 4-day work week, following other companies like Unilever and Shake Shack who have piloted similar programs in the past. The move is linked to a broader global #4dayweek initiative aimed at getting more organizations to embrace this approach.
Yes, but: “Despite the widespread enthusiasm for a four-day week, I am not convinced that kind of schedule is beneficial for employees or for businesses. The primary problem with the idea is that whatever work needs to be done, needs to get done in the same amount of total time. Despite wishes to the contrary, there are still only 24 hours in a day.” - Allard Dembe in “Why a 4 Day Work Week is Not Good For Your Health”
What's next: The theme of flexibility and support goes deeper than the workweek. With the renewed emphasis on mental health, wellbeing, and support some organizations are doubling down on supporting employees and leaders in novel ways - like 776’s 2% Growth & Caregiving Commitment to founders they invest in.
Go deeper:
Kill the 5-Day Work Week (The Atlantic)
A time-management expert says there's one important downside to the 4-day workweek, even if it does make you more productive (Business Insider)
These are the pros and cons of a four-day workweek (Fast Company)
Four-Day Workweeks Are Closer To Reality Than You Think (Forbes)
The bottom line: We’re 15+ months into a global pandemic and let’s be real - we’re all fried. Companies including Bumble, Credit Karma, Hootsuite, Thumbtack, and others are shutting down next week to give their employees some synchronized time off. We need to be mindful of the state our teams are in as develop our return to workplace plans - while designing our new work systems with retention as a primary driver.
This Week in People - June 25, 2021
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