Tricerat implemented a four-day workweek for staff beginning in October of this year to help boost employee wellbeing. As the year comes to an end, we wanted to reflect on the four-day workweek, how the shift has gone, and see what employees have to say about the switch.
The five-day workweek has long been considered the norm across the United States and abroad, but more and more businesses are exploring a switch to a shortened workweek for employees. United States based brands such as Uplevel and Kickstarter are moving towards a four-day workweek in 2022 and beyond. Internationally, we have seen more businesses embracing the four-day workweek including Atom Bank in the financial sector.
Tricerat remains open five days a week (Monday through Friday) but allows all staff to work just four days each week. Teams coordinate with their managers to be sure that enough staff is available to meet all deliverables and customer needs. The first three months of the switch has been a resounding success both in the opinions of staff and per management. Let’s dive into what some of the staff had to say on how the four-day workweek has impacted them.
Peter Cocoros (Software Engineer) - “The four day workweek has been excellent in helping me balance full time working with caring for our one year old son. It has given my wife and I more flexibility with childcare, which in turn allows for higher productivity at work. The best part, I get great quality time with my son on Fridays!”
Danielle Faulkner (Territory Sales Manager) - "Even though I work from home I am still running meetings, taking calls, sending emails, handling negotiations, and closing new accounts. As a single mom trying to juggle this along with my mom passing this year was a lot to handle. Having a day off during the week has allowed me to be able to plan doctor appointments, meetings with attorneys to handle my mom's estate, as well as plan trips with my son. This has been such a blessings in these chaotic times. I am very appreciative of this happening."
Adam Kramer (Renewals Manager) - "My experience with the 4-day workweek has been phenomenal. It’s really helped to balance my life. I now have considerable flexibility to juggle appointments that are only possible during the week along with regular weekly chores each week while my family is working. This affords us considerably more quality time to spend together when we are all not working at home. We’ve only been doing this a few months and its been a significant improvement to my quality of life."
Michael Lombardi (Software Developer) - "My experience has been very positive. I've been preparing to buy a house and move so life has been stressful, and I cannot imagine how much more stressful it would be without the four-day workweek! It's so nice having an extra day to catch up on life and get a handle on chores that would be piling up otherwise, and then after chores I can spend more time with my family."
Andrew Parlette (CTO) - "The flexibility that the company enabled has been a boost to my overall success. When I’m working I can focus better, having more energy, efficiency, and concentration. The ability to balance work and life priorities promotes my personal wellbeing, helping with both business and family responsibilities. I’ve used the personal time for various things like accomplishing personal tasks, decluttering my space and mind, and general opportunities for leisure and recharging."
Brian Rinebarger (Senior Software Developer) - "At first, I was not sure what to think of the 4-day workweek - it was one day less to write code and support customers! Now that we are a few months into the policy, I really appreciate and look forward to my day off. Adapting my work load has been easy to manage and neither my development or customer support work has suffered."
Michael Terry (Staff Accountant) - "I had fully expected that I would have to spend the next 10-15 years of my professional career working continuously and essentially missing out on much of my daughters’ young life. After all, that’s often how it was for my father when I was young. I figured that it’s just how the professional work life had to be. I feel very fortunate to be working for Tricerat, where time is valued and the efficient use of time is rewarded with the opportunity to actually see my daughter grow up rather than be working through that entire period of her life."
Tricerat employees greeted the announcement to switch over to the four-day workweek with applause this past summer. As Tricerat prepares to enter 2022, it is safe to say that the staff have embraced the change and hit the ground running. Check back next year for more blogs reflecting on the shortened workweek.