Navigating Modern Workdays: The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day Work Week
Once upon a time, there lived a community of small business owners. They all followed the same aged-old tradition of working five (5) days a week. It wasn’t until one day that a new idea made its way through the town about a four-day work week. Now most business owners didn’t feel comfortable making such a big change but there was one that decided to explore the idea.
The first thing they noticed was a boost in employee morale and increased productivity. They notices that with a four-day work week, their teams seemed more focused, energised and finished tasks quicker without the Monday blues handing over their heads. Their team was much more satisfied with their role because of the extra day off. They were much happier and ready to dive into work when they returned.
This change wasn’t all smooth sailing though, they did need to create a new work schedule. In order to make it work and ensure that customers were still being served Monday to Friday, they created two teams - one that worked the Friday and had the Monday off, and another that worked the Monday and had the Friday off. It required accountability, change and greater teamwork and communication.
Given their experience, they created a small map for their friends in small business to see if they should implement the four-day work week too…
Assess Customer Impact: Will my customers be okay with a four-day work schedule?
Check Team Readiness: Is my team ready and willing for longer workdays?
Calculate Costs: Will the saved operational costs outweigh the possible need for more staff?
Measure Adaptability: How flexible are our operations to accommodate this change?
Understand Market Perception: How will this change be perceived by my community and the market?
How Can This Work For your Business?
A four-day workweek doesn’t necessarily mean that your team is working fewer hours if you choose this avenue. If your team are willing, it would mean longer work days. You can be flexible (within reason) so it’s best that you consult with your team and see if they are receptive to the idea!
Analyse, assess and decide if the four-day workweek is a journey your business is ready to take!
If you need support in making this decision, reach out to our team at Business Abundance. We will be there to support you and provide you with resources, every step of the way.
