Pure play cloud native service provider Civo has permanently moved to a four-day working week as of 21 April, following a successful trial that began in late 2021 across the business.
All employees will work a new week of 34 hours instead of the previous 36, meaning that teams will now be able to work 8.5 hour days across a four-day week. They can also work these hours across a five-day week if that approach is best for them.
Throughout the trial, the organisation measured and assessed how a shorter working week impacted both its employees’ wellbeing and business operations. The team widely embraced the move, with the flexible way of working supporting both continued retention and the attraction of new staff.
Additionally, the business has trialled uncapped employee holidays, while also evaluating the impact of this on staff. As long as they continue to meet objectives and it works with the rest of the business, employees have been given the flexibility to take the number of annual leave days that works best for them.
Mark Boost, CEO of Civo, explained that the past two years have changed how businesses think about the needs of employees, as looking after their welfare and mental health is seen as a fundamental aspect of a successful business model.
He added: “Our adoption of the four-day work week came from the belief that by streamlining the working week, we could create a more productive and ultimately more successful organisation. Teams are more engaged and motivated, and crucially from a business perspective, we have seen no drop in the quality of work delivered.
“I am excited to see the company make the permanent shift to a four-day week, and look forward to the business continuing to scope out new and flexible ways of working.”
Ian Banks, site reliability engineer at Civo, said: “Having an extra day off really helps to alleviate pressures from inside and outside work. I can spend more time with my kids, get on with chores that could previously take up a whole Saturday, or go for a walk and decompress.
“I would not be surprised to see a reduced work week become the norm in the not-so-distant future.”