Earlier than I joined Buffer in 2022 as a content material author, I had my justifiable share of labor expertise: jobs and internships throughout each undergrad and graduate faculty. I labored a full time, 40-hour per week, place at a nonprofit once I was 22, and as a TV/film journalist at a preferred publication. But it surely wasn’t till I made the transfer to Buffer that I used to be launched to what has felt to me like a radical idea: the 4 day workweek.
After I first seen the content material author opening on Buffer’s Journey web page – I did a double take. Out of all the roles I’ve utilized for (and belief me, there have been quite a bit) it was the primary time I had ever seen an organization promote a shorter work week on their advantages web page. And to make clear, at Buffer, we take Fridays off however are nonetheless paid our full wage.
Buffer has been a totally distant firm since its inception in 2010, which is sooner than many made the swap. We then moved to a shorter work week in 2020.The transfer didn’t come as a shock for a lot of who had been already aware of Buffer’s tradition and our CEO Joel Gascoigne’s imaginative and prescient for the corporate, together with iOS engineer Jordan Morgan who has been a Bufferoo (our time period for Buffer teammate) since 2015.
“It is one thing that did not shock me, however in a great way,” mentioned Jordan. “As a result of Joel is so daring with how he runs the corporate. And that’s why I like working right here… he’s at all times looking out for us.”
Most consultants agree on the advantages of the 4 day work week, not just for workers, however for the corporate as an entire. I’ll element what my expertise with a shorter work week has been like together with sharing how a few of my teammates spend their Fridays off.
Why transfer to a 4 day work week within the first place?
The choice to shift to a shorter week in 2020 stemmed from a want to offer extra flexibility and help to Buffer workers throughout a troublesome time. Not solely had been the early months of the pandemic significantly difficult for a lot of on a private degree, but it surely additionally difficult the work-life steadiness for people worldwide. A survey achieved in late 2020 discovered that 70 % of employees began working throughout weekends whereas 45 % labored extra hours than earlier than the pandemic because the lockdown measures blurred boundaries between the workplace and residential.
Initially, the 4 day work week was only a trial run at Buffer, however after a number of months and an inner survey, it grew to become a everlasting fixture in 2021. The survey outcomes confirmed that our group nonetheless felt productive, like that they had extra autonomy, they usually reported feeling happier, too. As somebody who has simply wrapped up 4 months at Buffer, I can also attest to all of those advantages.
What it’s been like working solely 4 days per week
I’ll say, it did take me just a few weeks to regulate to the schedule change at first. It was unusual when Thursday rolled round and other people would say “have an excellent weekend” in Slack. I stored forgetting that conferences couldn’t be scheduled on Fridays and finish of week deadlines wanted to be met by Thursday. There was even a bit of hysteria on my half as I questioned if the work was actually doable in simply 4 days.
However progressively, I grew to become assured that this schedule was really life like. I’ve been in a position to slot in all my initiatives, attend all conferences, and I even have time for weekly donut calls (our optionally available weekly pair calls with one other Buffer teammate). Mentally, understanding that I solely had 4 working days to complete my duties appeared to spice up my productiveness as effectively.
Heather You, a core engineer at Buffer, mentioned her group has additionally tailored to the shorter weeks by having good time administration and being intentional with all of their communication.
“We actually be taught to make use of our time correctly and effectively in order that nobody is predicted to work longer days or on their day without work,” she mentioned. “We attempt to preserve our [meetings] to a minimal and work collectively asynchronously after we can.”
This type of flexibility is uncommon to seek out – at the very least in my expertise. At present within the U.S., droves of persons are quitting jobs the place they’re undervalued and underpaid, but overworked. I’m so grateful that my expertise in Buffer has been the other of that. In actual fact, this has been my first job the place I wasn’t anticipated to consistently verify in with my supervisor. In a time when some firms surveil their employees and tie worker value to output, this type of freedom is sort of liberating. Not solely do I really feel like my work and opinion is valued at Buffer, however so is my time.
How will we spend Friday’s off?
The beauty of having Fridays off is that every one is completely different. Some Fridays I sleep in till 11 am. Different instances, I schedule any essential errands or appointments. I’ve additionally handled it as a journey day for shorter journeys so I can maximize my trip time. There have additionally been a few Fridays the place I’ve used the day for overflow work to make sure a easy begin for the subsequent week.
I’m not alone in doing in order it’s really frequent to make use of Fridays as an additional day to catch up when wanted. I’ve discovered that having an possibility for an overflow day has been so useful. It gives extra flexibility in my schedule as a result of if one thing comes up throughout my work week, I do know I can spend a pair hours on Friday to get again on monitor.
I’ve been curious how my teammates spend their Fridays as effectively, so I spoke with 5 of them to be taught extra. Here is what they needed to say.
Spending time with household
Jordan is an IOS engineer based mostly in Missouri and has been with Buffer for over six years.
As soon as the faculties opened again up in particular person, I used to be so excited as a result of I received to take [my kids] to highschool within the morning [on Fridays]. And it is a bit of slice of life that I’ve by no means achieved earlier than as a result of my spouse stays at dwelling and takes care of all that. So I form of received to be a keep at dwelling dad for a day. And it is so useful as a result of I may give my spouse a break from a few of these duties as a result of being a keep at dwelling mum or dad is tremendous arduous and busy, and we’ve got three youngsters.
My son is so excited on Fridays. He loves it, as a result of he is aware of I am gonna take him [to school] and I will be within the automobile. So he at all times wakes up with a skip in his step on Friday mornings. After which my youthful two will get to expertise that later, too.
On spending Fridays together with his spouse
We stroll a path on Friday mornings, and simply catch up, , simply take a breather from the week. After which we go to Goal actually each single Friday. I simply get to do all these enjoyable, foolish little issues that you just may take with no consideration, like taking your youngsters to highschool, going to the fitness center, after which grocery buying at Goal.
Getting errands achieved
Heather is a core engineer based mostly in New York and has been with Buffer for one yr.
Having a 4 day work week since becoming a member of Buffer has been completely superb. I’m happier and luxuriate in my work greater than ever. The final environment and attitudes of my colleagues are simply so supportive and constructive, and there’s a lot of belief. I discovered that at Buffer, I’ve much more heads down time than I’ve ever had in earlier roles the place I’ve labored 5 days.
The 4 day workweek additionally gives lots of flexibility. A shock for me is that I’ve discovered myself getting caught up with most of my annual well being verify ups because it’s quite a bit simpler to schedule an appointment on a weekday slightly than on a weekend.
Quite a lot of the chores that I had set as much as be achieved over a weekend can now be unfold over three days, which really offers me time to relaxation and replicate. Fridays really feel like bonus days for me, the place I’ve an opportunity to atone for any work associated or private duties that I couldn’t get to over the week.
I’ve additionally been in a position to make use of this time to take a seat down and take a course on a brand new language I’d been eager to be taught extra about, calm down and skim a guide, or exit and discover a new pastime, after which I’m recharged and able to tackle a brand new week.
An overflow day
Ismail is a product designer based mostly in Morocco and has been with Buffer for 9 months.
The 4 day workweek has a constructive affect on my work-life steadiness and well-being. Having a shorter week has helped me deal with my work and I’m additionally in a position to relaxation and restore over the longer weekends. This additionally permits me to spend good high quality time with family and friends.
I did have some doubt in the beginning, however I discovered that I used to be in a position to be extra productive than what I believed. Prioritizing my duties helped me keep targeted and I used to be actually stunned to have the ability to get all of my work achieved.
I spend my Friday deliberately – it’s often a possibility to make docs and different appointments with out taking time away from my job.
For me, having a 4 days work week doesn’t imply that I don’t do something work associated on Fridays. Generally, I exploit the day to organize for the subsequent week and to additionally meet up with the overall information that I missed throughout the weekdays. It actually helps to higher kick off the subsequent week.
Touring the world
Octa is a senior buyer advocate and has been with Buffer for over 8 years. He doesn’t have a house base as he’s at the moment touring the world full time.
I undoubtedly would say that the 4 day workweek has been life altering – maybe probably the most superb factor that has occurred since I joined Buffer. It has lastly introduced that work life steadiness that every one of us are at all times looking for.
Having that additional day of the week permits your schedule to free as much as strive new issues. So in my case, the explanation why it has been tremendous superb is as a result of it sort of feels like I am having a mini lengthy weekend, , like a trip, each week in whichever place I’m at. It’s helped me to really feel extra productive and happier. There’s not sufficient phrases to outline how unbelievable it has been.
On his distinctive schedule working Fridays by means of Monday
As a result of I am at all times touring it actually would not matter – Monday to Sunday – it is all the identical. It is barely higher to have my relaxation days in the course of the week, as a result of when it comes to sights and highlights of whichever place I’m at, they are typically much less crowded on weekdays. So for instance, if I fly, it is at all times cheaper to fly on weekdays than on the weekends.
On his love for touring
I have been touring now full time for eight years. After I first began, I believed I’d do it for 4 years. However then it stored getting higher and higher. I imply, to me, it is a life-style. I am tremendous grateful that the Buffer group has at all times been tremendous supportive of this.
I simply love the world. Each place I am going, each particular person I meet, it is like a brand new story.
Fridays change into “Free-days”
Julia is a senior buyer advocate based mostly in Los Angeles and has been with Buffer for over six years.
I can’t think about going again to not working a 4-day workweek. Since we began experimenting with it over 2 years in the past I’ve used the day without work in so many various methods – which is the superior factor about it.
I’ve been on schedules with taking Mondays off and Fridays off, and am at the moment on the Fridays-off schedule (since our Advocacy group has staggered days so we will keep international protection). I’ve discovered my groove through the use of it as a ‘free’ day, not simply an extension of the weekend. It units me up for a weekend that’s really restful – not overtaken by errands and “to-do’s”. I really like that there’s a free day, if I want it, upon which I can rely to atone for work. I really feel much less rushed with our mindset of getting the proper issues achieved over cramming the identical quantity of stuff right into a shorter week.
Like my coworkers, the 4 day work week has additionally made such a constructive affect on my total effectively being. Not solely do I really feel like my efficiency and output at work has improved, however I even have extra time to stay my life and do the issues that make me happiest.
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