REWORK

How We Work: Summer Fridays

May 1, 2024

Cofounders of 37signals, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, discuss the Summer Fridays policy granting a four-day workweek. They explore the benefits and drawbacks, including work-life balance, reduced productivity, and maintaining team collaboration. The episode also touches on transitioning to a four-day workweek, balancing work seasonality with internal goals, and the feasibility of part-time work in different environments.

19:42

Episode guests

David Heinemeier Hansson

Jason Fried

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Four-day workweek boosts work-life balance and aligns with changing seasons.

Implementing shorter work weeks may hinder productivity and pose challenges for continuous coverage departments.

Deep dives

Summer Fridays Implementation at 37 Signals

37 Signals has adopted a Summer Fridays policy where employees work four-day weeks from May through September, allowing for a shorter 32-hour workweek. This initiative aims to introduce a break in the monotonous professional routine by aligning work hours with the changing seasons, reminiscent of the traditional summer break experienced during school days.

Analyzing the impact of a four-day work week

01:26

Acknowledging Trade-Offs in Reduced Work Week

01:13

Introduction

2min

Debating the Merits of Summer Fridays

7min

Navigating the Balance of Work Seasonality and Internal Ambition

4min

Navigating the Challenges of a Four-Day Work Week

4min

Exploring the Feasibility of Part-Time Work in Different Work Environments

4min

In this episode, host Kimberly Rhodes chats with 37signals' cofounders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson about the company's Summer Fridays policy, which grants employees a four-day workweek from May to September. While the perk encourages work-life balance and a feeling of seasonality, there are drawbacks to consider, like reduced productivity.

Key Takeaways:

00:46 - 37signals' Summer Friday policy and why it was initially introduced

03:09 - The trade-offs the company makes with summer hours

10:12 - The challenge with summer hours in the pursuit of more ambitious goals

13:09 - How the company balances coverage for always-on teams, like customer support

16:17 - The effect on team projects that require collaboration

Links and Resources:

Samsung shifts to emergency mode with 6-day work week for executives

The Rework Podcast on YouTube

The 37signals Dev Blog

37signals on YouTube

@37signals on X