In an eye-opening experiment, a New Zealand company is seriously considering making its 4-day work week a permanent fixture due to remarkable outcomes. Perpetual Guardian, which specializes in managing trusts, wills, and estates, put this new schedule to the test, allowing its 240 employees to work just four days a week while still receiving pay for five. The result? A significant uptick in productivity!
The initiative, which took place over March and April, had employees working 32 hours instead of the typical 40, all while researchers observed the impacts. Jarrod Smith, a human resources expert from Auckland University of Technology involved in the study, noted, “Supervisors reported that staff were more inventive, had better attendance, and showed up on time without taking lengthy breaks.” Most importantly, their job performance remained consistent, regardless of working four days instead of five.
Tammy Johnson, a senior client manager at Perpetual Guardian, shared that this change helped her sharpen her focus. “I started prioritizing one task at a time and found myself much more productive,” she said. This newfound efficiency led to meetings that used to drag on for two hours being reduced to just 30 minutes! Employees became adept at identifying time-wasting activities, opting to work smarter rather than harder.
Beyond productivity, the firm also saw a 24% improvement in employees’ work-life balance. For Tammy, a mother of two, her extra day off meant she could tackle errands and appointments during the week, allowing her to spend quality time with her family on weekends. The additional day off left employees feeling refreshed and energized upon returning to work.
Perpetual Guardian isn’t alone in this endeavor; other companies, such as a cosmetics brand in Austria, have also adopted four-day work weeks and witnessed boosts in sales. Sweden even experimented with six-hour workdays, achieving similar productivity levels and, in some instances, increased output. Andrew Turner, the founder of Perpetual Guardian, initiated this trial after discovering that employees typically only dedicate about three hours of their workday to productive tasks.
Initially set for a two-month duration, the positive results have led the company’s board to contemplate an enduring shift to the 4-day work week. One can only hope that more organizations will take note of these findings.
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Summary
A New Zealand firm, Perpetual Guardian, tested a 4-day work week and found significant boosts in productivity and employee satisfaction. The trial led to more efficient work habits and a better work-life balance, prompting the company to consider making the change permanent.