Exos, a top-performing coaching company in the industry, shares the outcomes of its trial run of a four-day workweek. Collaborating with Adam Grant from the Wharton School of Business and doctoral candidate Marissa Shandell, the findings from a six-month trial involving thousands of employees indicate that transitioning to a four-day workweek, rather than the traditional five, can mitigate employee burnout while enhancing productivity, retention rates, and overall team morale.
Exos Four-Day- Workweek Trial
Exos, a U.S.-based company boasting over 3,000 employees globally, has unveiled the outcomes of its initial six-month experiment with a four-day workweek, which began last spring and remains ongoing. Exos specializes in coaching and offers services to professional athletes alongside corporate wellness programs, serving nearly a quarter of the Fortune 100, which includes notable clients like Adobe and Humana.
During the trial, most Exos employees adhered to a four-day work schedule, followed by what the company terms "You Do You Fridays," when they could take time off, catch up on tasks, or utilize the free time in any manner they choose.
Greg Hill, the Chief People Officer at Exos, informed CNBC Make It that salaried workers who participated in the trial transitioned to a 40-hour workweek across four days without any alteration in their compensation. On the other hand, hourly workers were provided the opportunity to work between 32 and 40 hours over the four days, depending on their preferences and arrangements made with their manager.
The policy offers flexibility, allowing employees to engage in intentional recovery or incorporate rest into their schedule in a manner that suits them best. However, with just one rule: Employees cannot communicate with others or schedule meetings on Fridays.
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The Biggest Benefits of A Four-Day Workweek
Six months after implementing a four-day workweek, Exos observed that business performance and productivity remained robust, with increased revenue and decreased turnover.
After introducing "You Do You Fridays," 91% of Exos employees reported using their time more efficiently at work, up from 64% before the pilot. Additionally, manager assessments indicated consistent performance levels before and after the pilot period.
Exos experienced a notable rise in retention, with its turnover rate dropping from 47% in 2022 to 29% in 2023 (although this occurred during a cooling hiring activity). However, according to Hill, the most significant advantage of adopting a four-day workweek has been heightened efficiency, letting employees accomplish more in less time. Hill highlights that Exos implemented measures to ensure employees could focus on their tasks without feeling overwhelmed from Monday to Thursday to manage their workload.
Managers at Exos also promoted microbreaks by restricting most meetings to 25 minutes and advocating for asynchronous work when feasible. Additionally, Exos scheduled meetings primarily on Tuesdays and Thursdays, reserving Mondays and Wednesdays for individual work to minimize the productivity slowdown caused by frequent task switching.
Exos employees who are unable to take a full day off each week due to on-site client work are provided with flexible blocks of time throughout the week. Approximately 85% of Exos' workforce operates in person, with the remaining 15% adopting hybrid or remote arrangements.
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