We aren’t returning to the 5-day work week anymore
Joan Workplace Celebrates its First Anniversary of Successful Implementation of Four-Day Workweek
[California, 15 March 2024] – Joan Workplace Management, a pioneer in implementing the latest workplace trends and movements to enhance workplace dynamics and productivity, proudly marks the one-year milestone of its successful adoption of the four-day workweek (4DWW). With a thoughtful implementation and a commitment to employee well-being, Joan Workplace has witnessed significant improvements in productivity, team satisfaction, and work-life balance.
In April 2023, Joan Workplace initiated an experiment with shortening the weekly work hours for its developers’ team. Encouraged by the positive results and feedback from this trial, the company expanded the shorter workweek to other teams in July of the same year. Since then, Joan Workplace has been dedicated to optimizing its operations and gradually applying shorter working hours in other departments.
“We firmly believe in the principle of actively testing, utilizing, providing feedback on, and sharing workplace strategies as we continuously strive to innovate and enhance our solutions for companies worldwide. That’s why we embarked on the 4-day Workweek journey,” says Luka Birsa, co-founder and CTO at Joan Workplace and a 4DWW ambassador. “Through strategic experimentation and continuous improvement, we have created a work environment prioritizing efficiency, well-being, and innovation.”
As Birsa emphasizes, “Managers play a pivotal role in articulating the company’s KPIs and quantifying them effectively. Work must transcend mere time constraints, becoming purpose-driven and goal-oriented.” The key to the success of a 4DWW program is a clear plan that is designed, explained, accepted, and implemented upfront. This aligns company objectives with key performance indicators (KPI) for each team member.
The results of shortening the weekly workweek by one day have been overwhelmingly positive. “During the last year our development team has noticed an average improvement of 27% in productivity,” notes Birsa. “Our growth is fueled by higher motivation and improved operations, thanks to our innovative work concept. This approach not only requires meetings to be more efficient and shorter but also demands the improvement of crucial processes.”
Thanks to process improvements, the development team has reduced the average time required to resolve tasks by 65%, which translates to 3 days fewer than the same period before implementing the shorter workweek. All this was accomplished without extending the daily working hours.
In addition to productivity gains, Joan Workplace has noted a substantial enhancement in work-life balance, with employees experiencing an average improvement of 32%.
Despite the initial challenges and stress linked to adjusting to the new work schedule, especially regarding meeting KPIs within the shorter timeframe, our teams have successfully adapted. This adaptation has resulted in an average 32% decrease in stress levels compared to those experienced in April 2023 when the experiment began.
Regarding absenteeism and turnover, Joan Workplace has maintained stability and satisfaction among its workforce. “With the introduction of shorter and more flexible working hours, we did not notice any negative trends,” assures Birsa. “Our innovative work practices improve productivity and support employment stability within our company.”
The implementation of the four-day workweek has a positive effect on internal operations without any negative impact on client relationships. “At Joan, customer satisfaction is our top priority. We’ve organized our work to ensure our clients don’t experience any negative impact from our implemented changes. We maintain our standard of service five days a week, coordinating with Eastern Time, CET, and US time zones, and have observed no decline in the NPS score.”
Reflecting on the project’s success, Joan Workplace enthusiastically recommends the consideration of the shorter workweek to other companies. However, it’s essential to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach and each organization must tailor its implementation to suit its unique business and goals.
Moreover, it’s imperative to recognize that the traditional approach to work no longer meets the needs and expectations of modern workers, necessitating a fundamental shift in approach to work. Gen Z is driving this change, compelling organizations to rethink their strategies. By offering more free time, companies can attract and retain young talent, fostering a more sustainable and equitable workplace.
As Joan Workplace looks ahead, it remains committed to further optimizing its operations and experimenting with alternative ways of working. “Our growth mindset and thoughtful strategy of flexibility ensure that all employees feel supported and motivated within the new work environment,” concludes Birsa. “We are excited to continue our journey towards fostering a culture of innovation, well-being, and efficiency and to offer the same level of services to our customers.”
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About the brand:
A brand of Visionect, Joan Workplace Management is an all-in-one workplace management system. It offers meeting room booking solutions and proprietary ePaper meeting room schedulers, desk booking solutions, and solutions for streamlined visitor management.
Joan Workplace Management is the preferred brand for effectively managing collaborative hybrid work environments. Joan is a multiple-time design award winner and the #1 room booking software for 2023 according to G2. Joan’s proprietary ePaper room schedulers and solutions are used by many Fortune 500 companies.
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Ana Krizmancic
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+386 31 899 850