The new weekend š
Redesigning worklife | #73
Exciting to see a six-month pilot of the 4-day workweek launch in the UK.
More than 30 companies are taking part in the trial run by the 4 Day Week Campaign, think tank Autonomy, and researchers at Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College. The goal is to measure if workers can be 100% productive 80% of the timeāwithout loss of pay! Ā
Research so far has been positive with Iceland leading the way. Here's a list of UK employers who are accredited under the 4 Day Week Campaign accreditation scheme. Labour has called for a 32-hour workweek to increase productivity and reduce burnout, and it was part of Jeremy Corbyn's manifesto.Ā
It's time we moved away from presence-based to output-based work systems, which is how most freelancers already operate so talk to us about itā¦
I've been doing a 4-day week for a while, keeping Fridays free for my personal projects, life admin, travel etc. Itās not easy but Iām determined to stick to it for the long-term benefits and a healthier business. Iām happier, more focused and motivated to get stuff done within set hours. Constraints are good for creativity.
It can be tricky with new clients and if comms need to go out on a Friday, but thatās rare. Fewer emails are sent on Fridays and people start to slope off early anyway.
Itās up to me to educate clients as to how I work, starting with an email signature that states my studio hours and a line on my website about āhow I workā. I can also negotiate it as part of the package for any contract roles.
Parkinsonās law: āWork expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.ā I like the inverse idea: āWork contracts to fill the time available for its completion.ā Cure procrastination!
Pandora Sykes interviewed Alex Pang, a futurist and tech consultant about how we get more done when we work less. A deep dive into how a 4-day week could be better for the climate, the economy and public health.
Heās just finished and published The Four-Day Week: 2022 Annual Report, which talks about several big trends heās seen since the pandemic started, that have taken the movement in new directions; developments in Iceland and the UAE; and other things.
It's not just for knowledge workers either. I had coffee with a friend who's a self-employed painter/decorator and musician and he said heās been doing a 4-day week for a while and loving it. Does he get stressed trying to fit it all in?
No. I have a physical job which is tiring, and there's only so much I can do in a week anyway. This has been good for my mental health and it means I have more time for my music, songwriting and making art!
The UK pilot has inspired me to do my own and document my process as a small biz owner. Try and measure the benefitsāearnings, time management, productivity, work bookings etc. Something to get my teeth into over the next six monthsā¦
Excellent advice from the Creative Boom community on why you might want to do itāproductivity, planning and keeping your clients happyš„
You can join the UK 4 Day Week pilot here. If youāre already doing it, let me know how youāre getting on.
Nicci šš»āāļø
Use it or lose it āļø š©āš»
Some local news from Hastings & St Leonards: Ā£200k appeal for Hastings traders: āMany are on the verge of closing for goodā. A group of independent traders have set up a campaign to help the townās battered hospitality industry get through winter. My neighbour, who co-runs a brasserie in town, says many are at risk of going under, and theyāve had no or little help from the government š
Iāll be donating to the GoFund Me campaign and going out as much as I can, working in cafes. Forget Dry January. Your high street needs you! I love that my hometown is full of quirky, indie cafes, bars and clubs, and I want a town centre to be proud of.
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