Burnout? Overwork? Stress? No thanks.
For years, studies have shown that the old, outdated ways of working lead to emotional and physical exhaustion, diminishing productivity, and stifled creativity. That’s not the kind of thing we want at Today Digital. That’s why we introduced the four-day working week back in July 2023.
Some saw this strategy as a bold move, but we’ve seen incredible results. Our focus on flexibility has empowered our teams to accomplish more, crush their goals (personal and professional), and enjoy the positive side effects of true work-life balance.
We believe flexibility isn’t a perk, it’s the foundation of a thriving workforce, and the results of our program confirm we’re on the right track. Productivity is up, morale is sky-high, and we’re constantly proving that success doesn’t mean sacrificing life outside of work.
Here’s your behind the scenes look at how we’re using the four-day work week to empower our teams, boost performance metrics, and revolutionize employee satisfaction.
The Path to the Four-Day Working Week at Today Digital
The four-day working week has quickly evolved from a radical concept to a global workplace revolution. What was once seen as a risky experiment is now proving to be a smarter, more sustainable way to work. At Today Digital, we’ve always taken a unique approach to work.
We embraced the benefits of fully remote work long before the pandemic arrived, hiring specialists from around the world to build our incredible team. When the UK introduced its four-day working week pilot program back in 2022, we were eager to be part of the experiment.
After all, not only did the nationwide program have an amazing 92% success rate, but it resonated with our values of flexibility, employee satisfaction, and innovative growth.
While other organizations lagged behind, hesitant to challenge the status quo, we surged full steam ahead, embracing shorter working weeks, even before AI and automation emerged as critical tools to help team members accomplish more, in fewer hours.
Now, we believe the four-day work week will soon become the norm, and we’ve already done the due diligence to prove it really works – not just for our business, but for our team.
Why We Believe the Future of Work is Flexible
At Today Digital, we’re convinced that the future of work is built on flexibility. We look beyond the trends, focusing on results, and changing dynamics that really matter. Let’s look at the facts. The companies forcing staff to return to the office full-time are struggling.
Attrition rates are soaring (42% of companies implementing traditional workplace schedules experienced higher turnover rates last year). Alternatively, companies that embrace flexible work, and shorter work weeks (like us), are seeing amazing results. Just look at the fact that 89% of companies who joined the world’s largest four-day working week trial decided to make the policy permanent.
At the same time, we’re increasingly discovering that Fridays (at least from a work perspective), are overrated. Studies have shown that employee productivity drops to its lowest point on Friday afternoons. Why force team members to trudge blearily through another day of work when they’re more likely to make mistakes and lack creativity?
Instead of struggling to keep up with the grind, our employees use their Fridays to invest in themselves – focusing on their hobbies and passions to fuel creativity, enhancing their physical or mental health, or even exploring new educational opportunities.
Now that we can give our employees access to more advanced tools, like AI-powered assistants and automation, we can help them use every hour of their shorter working week more effectively, balancing optimal productivity, with wellbeing. It’s the perfect recipe.
Navigating the Hurdles of a Four-Day Working Week
We know what you’re thinking. There are plenty of statistics and reports that claim the four-day working week is amazing. But, what about the challenges? Shifting to the age of remote and hybrid work during the pandemic wasn’t easy for anyone.
Embracing the four-day working week has its challenges too. That’s likely the reason why some companies in the UK’s trials cancelled their new policy (despite 100% saying it had positive results).
Here’s how we tackle the challenges of a four-day working week:
Managing Workload Intensity
Squeezing five days of productivity into a four-day schedule can be complex. Some employees worry about burnout, while business leaders fear a drop in performance. Our strategy? Work smarter, not harder. We take advantage of technology and tools to streamline repetitive tasks, help our teams block their times effectively and prioritize the tasks that matter most.
We keep unnecessary tasks (like surplus meetings) to a minimum, and focus on keeping our teams aligned at all times, so collaboration flows naturally. For instance, our marketing teams use AI tools to generate diverse ideas and transform single channel assets into multichannel solutions with ease. Our news teams use AI to seek out opportunities at record-speed, while our customer-facing teams leverage technology to streamline customer outreach workflows and research.
Producing Relevant News Content at Speed
Work at Today Digital is fast-paced – particularly in our high octane news rooms. Our four-day work week has allowed us to revolutionize the way our teams work, encouraging our teams to focus on what really matters. Journalists return to their desks invigorated and ready to dive into an ever-evolving news cycle, putting the needs of our readers first. They have time to digest what’s happened throughout the week, create deeper insights and tell more effective stories.
With tools like ChatGPT at their disposal, our journalists can quickly research and understand new stories and topics, giving them more time for in-depth interviews, and exploration. With limited time, the emphasis on “quality over quantity” has increased, allowing us to prioritize thoughtful, insightful journalism that aligns with our audiences.
Meeting Customer and Client Expectations
In a fast-paced, client-facing environment, exceptional service is non-negotiable. Our commercial team has seamlessly adapted to the four-day working week by adopting an ‘always-on’ mindset. While Fridays are non-working days, team members remain responsive to critical inbound emails, and resolve client queries quickly.
Our focus on embracing innovative technology has made a huge difference here too. With HubSpot CRM, we can streamline workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and ensure our customer-facing teams have more time to dedicated to personalized customer interactions.
Plus, embracing the latest technology has improved our reporting capabilities, giving us the chance to deliver greater visibility into opportunities for our clients, and develop more intuitive Account-Based marketing strategies. Our team targets the most relevant accounts, maximizing results while reducing time spent on less valuable leads.
Maintaining Exceptional Results
At Today Digital we believe in the critical balance between impactful work, and strong work-life balance. Shifting to a four day work week hasn’t damaged our ability to deliver results. If anything, it’s fuelled better outcomes overall. Our journalists can spend more time on in-depth interviews and unique stories, delivering faster, more accurate and more impactful news stories.
The four-day working week has prompted our marketing teams to better optimize their time, resulting in a surge of creative energy. Routine tasks are streamlined using AI and automation, freeing mental bandwidth for innovative thinking. Marketing experts can use AI to brainstorm and explore opportunities, giving them more time to focus on strategic planning and creative execution.
This balance of efficiency and creativity has elevated the quality of campaigns while ensuring every hour is impactful. Our teams are accomplishing more, and they’re doing it in less time.
Fostering a Collaborative Culture
Just like the rise of remote work, the introduction of the four-day working week has left some companies concerned about limited collaboration or team-building opportunities. Fortunately, our long-standing history with remote work means we’ve been able to maintain a thriving, connected culture, even in the new age of work.
We make meetings more intentional and impactful, with huddles for alignment, and constant asynchronous communication through channels like Teams to keep our teams connected. Beyond that, we make relationships a priority with regular events, meet-ups, and unique experiences.
Our Summer recharge events, for instance, give our employees to realign and connect on an emotional level. In fact, they’re one of the top things many of our staff members look forward to every year. Building a strong culture doesn’t have to rely on constant in-person interaction. Our teams forge deeper connections.
How Our Teams Use the Four-Day Working Week
From day one, we knew the four-day working week would be a revolution for the future of work. We knew all the basic benefits we could expect going in. For instance, four-day working weeks reduce costs for both employers and team members (fewer pesky commutes).
They give our teams more time to focus on improving their mental and physical health, invest their time into the people and activities they love, and fight back against stress. Four-day working weeks enhance creativity, improve productivity, and even make businesses more sustainable. For instance, did you know that a 10% reduction in working hours cuts carbon footprints by 8.6%?
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how our teams are making the most of their new working week:
Kieran Devlin – Balancing New Skills and Health
For our technology journalist, Kieran, an extra day outside of the office has been a game changer. He’s used his extra time to focus on his personal life, enjoying meaningful moments with family and friends. Kieran now has more time to visit the gym, work on enhancing his personal health, and even handle the everyday tasks that usually steal moments from our weekends (household chores).
Kieran has even had more time to focus on developing new skills, taking advantage of his extra day off to learn how to drive. For Kieran, the four-day working week has unlocked a new level of balance – and we see the results in his consistently excellent work.
Rory Greener – Exploring Passions and Staying Active
For Rory, a fellow technology journalist, the four-day week fuels his passions and personal growth. Like many of our employees here at Today Digital, Rory has plenty of ambitions and interests outside of work. With the four-day working week, he has more time to focus on artistic projects, social experiences, and overall fitness.
Rory says the flexibility given by Today Digital has helped him balance his professional and personal goals, so he can become the “best version” of himself. He can connect with others, try new things, and enjoy the world around him, without compromising on his career.
Rebekah Brace – Learning, Growing, and Recharging
Rebekah, part of our marketing team, uses her extra day to invest in her education, and her wellbeing. She uses her Fridays to sharpen her marketing skills, learn about the latest trends in our various markets, and expand her expertise, without being overwhelmed. With a standard working week, she wouldn’t have the time (or the energy) to invest in constant growth.
She also prioritizes her mental and physical health, dedicating time to yoga and mindfulness, experimenting with new recipes, and tackling fitness challenges with friends. She says the four-day working week allows her to feel as though she’s constantly moving forward, in both her professional and personal life, without compromising on either.
The Future of Flexible Work at Today Digital
The four-day work week has become a cornerstone of Today Digital’s success, reshaping how we work and thrive. This isn’t just a temporary experiment; it’s the foundation of our vision for the future—a vision where productivity and well-being go hand in hand.
For us, the four-day working week isn’t just about hours, it’s about creating an environment where people can thrive holistically. You can’t truly excel in your career unless you’re also thriving on a personal level. The results of our program prove that.
Want to be a part of the revolution with us? Our team is constantly expanding. If you’re looking for an opportunity to not only revitalize your career, but invest more time into yourself and the things you love, come and join us at Today Digital.
Find out latest career opportunities here, and help us prove the value of the four-day working week to everyone. Believe us – it’s the future!
For a full copy of our report, media enquiries and more information, please contact us.
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