Your 4-Day Workweek Blueprint with Jessica Weitzel
Dec 19, 2023
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Jessica Weitzel, expert in transitioning to a 4-day workweek at nonprofits, joins the podcast to demystify the process. They explore defining success metrics, crafting optimal work schedules, priming teams for the shift, and communicating the transition to clients and the community.
Setting success metrics is crucial for evaluating the impact of a four-day workweek pilot, including revenue, productivity, and mental health.
Clear communication and managing client expectations are key in implementing a successful transition to a four-day workweek.
Deep dives
Overview of the episode
In this podcast episode, the host, Dolph Goldenberg, interviews Jessica Onk's White Soul, the president and co-owner of VIA Evaluation, a certified women-owned evaluation and strategy consulting firm. The episode focuses on their experience with implementing a four-day workweek pilot at their own firm and the evaluation of its outcomes. Jessica shares that their firm of about 15 to 20 people decided to participate in an official international pilot for the four-day workweek. They set various success metrics to evaluate the impact of the pilot, including revenue, productivity, time spent commuting, mental health, and job satisfaction. Jessica explains how they communicated the pilot to clients, set boundaries, and received supportive and positive responses. She highlights the importance of clear communication and managing client expectations. The episode also discusses the challenges and parallels between their consulting firm and similar-sized nonprofits considering a transition to a four-day workweek.
Setting expectations and success metrics
Jessica shares that they wanted to capture specific outcomes and success metrics from their four-day workweek pilot. They set out to evaluate revenue, but understood that this would be a lagging indicator, not immediately visible within a few months. Instead, they focused on key aspects such as increased productivity, time spent on commuting, household chores, childcare, and mental health. They participated in an international pilot that provided pre and post surveys to assess these factors. Internally, they tracked hours, workload, and gathered feedback through surveys on barriers and effectiveness. They also emphasized the importance of time tracking accuracy to differentiate between perception and reality.
Implementation and adjustment
Jessica explains how they approached the implementation of the four-day workweek pilot. They decided to have everyone in the firm work the same four days, with Friday off. Initially, some staff members continued to work on Fridays out of habit, but over time, they adjusted to the new schedule. They allowed exceptions for client events, professional development, and urgent matters. They implemented measures to prevent email overload on Fridays, including clear communication with clients, the use of scheduled send, and setting client expectations. The pilot revealed that the habit of working on Fridays decreased, aligning with their goal of establishing a clear boundary between work and personal time.
Evaluation and future prospects
Jessica shares that their evaluation of the four-day workweek pilot has shown positive outcomes. They observed increased productivity, improved focus on client projects, efficient time management, and a decrease in nonessential work tasks. They also saw changes in staff perception and a shift in mindset towards accomplishment within the new schedule. Jessica acknowledges that revenue evaluation requires more time to determine the full impact. However, they noted that staff members did not report feeling overwhelmed or unable to fulfill their job responsibilities. The pilot has also aided recruitment efforts, with potential employees expressing interest in their four-day workweek structure. Jessica emphasizes the importance of discussing and planning the necessary changes to successfully implement and evaluate a pilot program.
In this episode, we demystify transitioning to a 4-day workweek at your nonprofit. Jessica Weitzel joins us to share the blueprint she and her team at Via Evaluation used to develop, implement, and evaluate a 4-day workweek pilot. With Dolph by her side, they explore:
Defining success metrics
Crafting your optimal work schedule
Priming your team for the shift
Communicating the transition to your clients and community
