[Replay] We Adopted a 4-Day Workweek - Tash Walker

Oct 30, 2023

Tash Walker, founder of a firm, shares how implementing a four-day workweek improved relationships and productivity. Clients didn't even notice the change and were impressed with the prioritization of people. The firm saw increased revenues, decreased absenteeism, doubled clients, and improved referrals. The podcast explores the fascination of human behavior, redefining work in professional services, the benefits of a four-day workweek, the importance of rest for creativity, understanding contradictions in human behavior, and exploring new ways of working.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

The Fascination of Human Behavior and the Lack of Emphasis on Research in the Boardroom

01:44 • 17min

Redefining Work in Professional Services and the Value of Ideas

18:14 • 3min

The Benefits of a Four-Day Workweek

21:23 • 7min

The Productivity of Creative Labor and the Importance of Rest

28:36 • 10min

Understanding Contradictions and Human Behavior

38:20 • 4min

Exploring New Ways of Working and the Concept of Flexible Working

42:18 • 3min

Tash Walker is the founder of a firm and spends her Fridays making marmalade.

Before instituting a four-day workweek at her firm, The Mix, she barely had time for her relationships. She decided to start doing research about different ways of working. There had to be a better way than the default options of "Summer Fridays" and "flexible work," that never seem to make less anxiety or stress-ridden.

In her research, she discovered many examples of Swedish companies embracing 4-day workweeks and also found that when they instituted it, they often helped improve productivity. After bringing the option to her team at The Mix, they decided to do a three-month trial. They didn't even tell their clients.

The funny thing? The clients didn't even notice. Even better, when they shared it with their clients - they weren't offended. They were curious to learn more and impressed that they had prioritized their people. While many quickly reflex to "well that can't work here," Tash and her team went forward anyway and have shown that a 4-day work week can work and it can work in professional services - an industry where many take for granted the fact that you should always be available for your clients.

Beyond improving the lives of the people at the firm, they achieved some incredible results:

Revenues up 57%
Absenteeism down 75%
Productivity stayed the same
Doubled the number of clients
Client referrals up 50%

Want to learn how to make this happen at your company? You can download their "4-day week" report which is one of the best reports I've seen on the future of work.

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