Officely’s Four-Day Workweek: How and Why it Works

When you’re building a product that champions hybrid work and employee flexibility, it’s probably a good idea to walk the talk when it comes to giving your employees more control over their schedules. At Officely, we’ve always offered a flexible work environment, allowing employees to choose where they work as long as they’re meeting the expectations. Last month alone, we had employees calling in from their travels in South Korea and Malaysia.

However, we wanted to take it up a notch. The working world has been proven wrong so many times over the last few years about how people ‘should’ work, which is why we decided to re-evaluate our traditional five-day workweek and consider a four-day workweek approach.

Enter: Officely’s four-day workweek.

At the start of 2022, we piloted working Monday to Thursday… and we’ve never looked back.

Why We Switched to a Four-Day Workweek and How It Benefits Us

Sure, plenty of businesses have been changing how they approach work arrangements, but what is it about the four-day workweek that we thought would be particularly beneficial to us?

The truth is, it came from real-world experience.

Our founders, Max and Rich, had played the startup game before and found that the traditional hustle culture just wasn’t conducive to employee productivity. 

“Motivation is crucial to any business, but particularly startups. Startups are far more likely to fail because the team loses energy than because they lose money,” Max explains.

 “We’re big believers in innovation and creativity, so we had to think about how to promote and encourage both while safeguarding against burnout.

“We wanted our team to come in on Mondays feeling recovered and invigorated, and the best way to do that was to actually give them the time and space to recuperate.”‍

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What Does Our Four-Day Workweek Look Like?

Originally, the four-day workweek came with a couple of requirements. 

The goal was to encourage employees to do something proactive on their days off, “Originally, it was just anything other than sitting in front of Netflix for the day,” Max continues.

“After a short period of time, we just felt like it was all too forced. If you’re going to give employees free time, you need to actually give them free time.”

And so it developed into the four-day workweek that Officely still uses today. Monday to Thursday are the working days, with everyone off on the Friday.

No caveats, no longer hours. You switch off your laptop on a Thursday evening and come back on Monday morning.

Key Benefits of Officely’s Four-Day Workweek: Boosted Productivity and Employee Well-being

While we’d love for the four-day workweek to be the new normal for every business, even within Officely we knew that to uphold it there had to be clear benefits.

‍So, what have we found since introducing our new work week? 

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1. Productivity has Increased

Speaking to everyone on the team, from CEOs to engineers to marketing, we all agree that a four-day week pushes you to be more productive during your working hours. 

Both as a business and as a product we’re always striving to bring more to the table, and that mindset takes a lot of work.

Whether it’s a new marketing strategy or a new feature, the pace of B2B tech means everyone has to be up for a challenge.

We’ve found people are far more likely to tackle that challenge head-on if they know they have ample time and space away from it at the end of the week.

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2. General Work Happiness is High

We’d be lying if we said there wasn’t a bit of a superiority complex that comes with having a four-day week.

Telling friends and family that we’re off on a Friday? An unbeatable feeling.

Add to that that we come into Mondays feeling refreshed, that ‘hump day’ doesn’t exist, and that most of us work from home on a Thursday so that we can roll into the weekend imminently… it’s no wonder that the Officely team is a happy bunch.

Obviously, a four-day weekend isn’t the only factor when it comes to team morale. But it certainly helps.

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3. Meetings Actually Matter

When you have fewer hours in the week, time is of the essence. The number one way we make sure we’re spending our time wisely is how we run our meetings.

Officely meetings are on a needs-must basis. If it can be a Slack message or a quick conversation, keep it as that. If you’re hosting a meeting, make sure it’s only people who need to be involved who are invited.

We’ve all sat through meetings thinking ‘this could have been an email’, and Officely is big on making sure that’s not the case with us.

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☕️ Psst… that doesn’t mean our meetings are all dry, we also have breakfast catch-ups every Wednesday morning (minimal work talk allowed)

How Officely Employees Spend Their Fridays: Maximizing Free Time

With a no-strings four-day workweek, the big question is how do the Officely team spend their extra day?

Here’s what some of the team have to say:

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‍Lucille, Community Manager
“I wish I could tell you I do sooooo many things, but the truth is I usually just clean and relax.

“It means I have more time and energy on Saturday and Sunday, and I love knowing that I can go on weekends away with family and friends more easily.‍

‍“Come Sunday night I feel like I’ve had time to both relax AND be productive.”

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‍Phil, UX Lead

“As a dad, my Fridays are mostly reserved for childcare. It gives me time to spend with my son that I wouldn’t have in other workplaces and my wife gets a break!”

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‍Alex, Product Manager

“I'd be lying if I said I get up early, but I'm still quite productive with it! In the morning I’ll pick up groceries and head to the gym while everything’s a bit quieter. ‍

‍“I usually do some life admin in the afternoon and then head out for a drink with friends later on.‍

‍“It’s great to catch up on everything I tend to neglect in the week, and then have the ‘normal’ weekend to spend on getting out and about.” 

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Alice, Content Manager

“As the rest of my friends work on Fridays, I usually spend the day doing something for myself. 

“Whether it’s going to the gym, doing household bits, or getting out for a big walk, my Fridays tend to be downtime before I socialize over Saturday and Sunday. 

“I really notice the balance on a Monday when I come back and last Thursday feels so long ago.” 

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Max, CEO

“Six months ago, my answer would have been very different, but now that I have a young daughter, Fridays are for her. 

“Having a day off in the traditional week means my partner also gets some time to herself;  to go and meet up with friends or get out and about, and I can spend some quality time with our baby!”

Should You Consider a Four-Day Workweek? Our Experience and Recommendations

If it wasn’t obvious, we absolutely do.

But we also recognize that as a product-based startup our business model offers us more flexibility. For freelancers or charge-by-hour companies, the four-day workweek is a direct hit to the bottom line. 

For customer service or sales-based roles, there’s also some contention when it comes to how working one less day will impact targets.

For us, the four-day workweek works. With a productive, motivated, happy team, we see no reason why we wouldn’t continue to embrace it.

Have a burning question about Officely? Reach out to us on Linkedin, we love to hear your thoughts and opinions!

Frequently Asked Questions-FAQs

What is a four-day workweek, and how does it differ from a traditional workweek?

A four-day workweek is an alternative work schedule where employees work four days instead of the traditional five, often with longer daily hours to maintain the same total weekly hours. This model aims to improve work-life balance, reduce burnout, and increase productivity by offering employees more free time while maintaining the same amount of work.

What are the proven benefits of a four-day workweek?

The four-day workweek has been shown to lead to increased productivity, as employees are often more focused during the shorter workweek. Additionally, employees report improved well-being, with less stress and better mental health due to more time to rest and recharge. Companies that implement this model also see higher recruitment and retention rates, as flexible work arrangements attract top talent.

How can a company successfully implement a four-day workweek?

Successfully implementing a four-day workweek requires careful planning. Companies need to assess their organizational readiness, considering factors like company culture and operational needs. It's helpful to start with a trial period to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments. Clear communication with employees about the goals and benefits of the change is crucial, and the program should be regularly reviewed to evaluate its impact on productivity and employee satisfaction.

Are there any challenges associated with a four-day workweek?

While the four-day workweek offers many benefits, there are challenges to consider. Some industries, like healthcare and retail, may find it difficult to implement due to operational needs that require constant staffing. Additionally, longer workdays could lead to employee burnout if not properly managed. Maintaining customer service levels during off days can also present a challenge for some companies.

What does the "100-80-100" model mean in the context of a four-day workweek?

The "100-80-100" model refers to a system where employees receive 100% of their pay for working 80% of the traditional hours. The expectation is that employees will maintain 100% productivity despite working fewer hours, emphasizing efficiency and results over time spent working.

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