06 Sep Future of work: We’re piloting a four-day week!
From the desk of Matt Juniper, Associate Partner and General Manager: I am very excited to announce what is probably the single biggest shift in the way we work at PRAXIS in the 22-year history of our company. Starting in October, PRAXIS will be one of 60 North American companies participating in a global pilot to test the viability of a four-day work week. The six-month pilot program is coordinated by non-profit 4 Day Week Global, in partnership with researchers at Cambridge University, Boston College, Oxford University and regional researchers.
There’s no catch. We’re not asking employees to shift to four, 10-hour days. Employees will not receive a reduction in compensation. We’re simply learning to work smarter not longer.
As a leader, I must trust my team to represent PRAXIS by delivering high-quality, best in class work. The pandemic put this trust to the test with a dramatic and sudden shift in our ways of working, moving to remote work and rethinking the way we had been collaborating as a team for two decades.
My team delivered.
In fact, we saw improvement across a variety of metrics including productivity, creativity, and motivation. With this in mind, PRAXIS has decided to take yet another bold step, to put further trust in our employees and to further invest in their wellbeing. The 4 Day Week Global Pilot presents an exceptional opportunity to explore the future of work, trusting our employees to optimize and enhance their productivity and rewarding them with more flexibility and a full extra day of time to rest, recover and pursue their interests and passions outside of the workplace.
But what does this mean? How will this impact our clients, partners and employees?
We’ve chosen to participate in the pilot as an investment in the well-being and happiness of our employees and we’re excited about how this investment in our team will also translate into additional benefits for our clients.
There is a growing body of research that demonstrates that a four-day work week results in happier employees with improved physical and mental health, and higher levels of job satisfaction. We believe this improved work-life balance will result in a more energized and productive team, with heightened creativity and sharpened problem-solving skills, ready to bring the best of themselves to their work. This evolution in the way we work will also contribute to the positive culture we’re known for, helping us to continue to recruit and retain the top talent in the industry to deliver best in class work for our clients.
We’ll be working closely with our clients and partners to ensure that our four-day week model offers the highest level of accessibility and service, and that we continue to deliver the same impactful results they have come to expect from PRAXIS. In fact, true success would mean that no one notices a difference, or even better, we score higher on client performance metrics!
So, how will this work?
The pilot will follow the 100-80-100TM model, which advocates for 100% of the pay, working 80% of the time, with a commitment to 100% productivity. Right now, we are working together as a team to research, plan, and prepare for a seamless transition. We are exploring ways we can improve time management, productivity, and efficiency, so that we are working smarter vs working longer.
There will be a steep learning curve. As far as we know we are one of the first agencies of our kind in Canada to participate in a 4 Day Week Global Pilot. We’re proud to be embarking on this journey and the feedback we have received from our clients and colleagues has been very positive. We know there will be many eyes on us as we navigate the way forward and we are ready for the challenge. Stay tuned!