'The entire team flourished': Claxon implements permanent 4-day work week: reports

Successful trial of shortened week 'exceeded' expectations, says CEO

'The entire team flourished': Claxon implements permanent 4-day work week: reports

Media agency Claxon is making its four-day work week scheme permanent after a successful three-month trial last year, according to reports.

The scheme grants employees Fridays off, without reducing pay, by extending working hours Mondays to Thursdays, Mediaweek Australia reported.

Employees, however, remain on-call for Fridays for important cases.

Daniel Willis, founder and CEO of Claxon, said the four-day work week is not just about improving the company's culture, but also boosting productivity and performance.

"I wanted to see firsthand how an additional day of rest each week would enable our team to continue to perform long-term at peak levels," he said as quoted by Mediaweek Australia.

"The results exceeded our expectations, and I'm thrilled to report that not only did we maintain our high standards, the entire team flourished, and clients are also experiencing new and invigorated teams."

Willis shared that he used to be under a four-day work week more than a decade ago, and has been inspired to introduce it to Claxon as well.

"Towards the end of last year I simply thought 'Why not?' and we commenced a three-month trial at our busiest time of year," he said on LinkedIn. "My thinking was - if it can work over that period then we're good, and if it's going to break then that's when it'll happen."

Four-day work week in Australia

The introduction of four-day work week schemes has been gaining ground across the world over the past years, fuelled by strong demand from employees.

In Australia, Robert Half found that 65% of employees want a four-day work week with retention of salary, with Gen Z and Gen X staff emerging as the most eager group for it.

Associate Professor Remi Ayoko from the University of Queensland's Business School attributed the demand for four-day work weeks to various factors.

“Its popularity may be related to the findings from previous work done in this area by European countries such as in Scandinavia and our neighbour, New Zealand. Australian organisations are looking over other countries' shoulders to see what they might learn and to ensure they don't miss out," Ayoko told Momentum, UQ's Business School Magazine.

"The Great Resignation problems prompted by the pandemic may also be another reason the concept is being trialled and getting more popular in Australia."

Among the benefits of four-day work weeks that Ayoko noted include:

  • Reduced transportation costs 
  • Reduced carbon footprint and a more sustainable environment 
  • Reduced running costs like energy bills for employers 
  • Improved employee well-being 
  • Greater work-life balance 
  • Better staff recruitment and retention.

Four-day work week trial

In 2022, more than 20 companies in Australia took part in a four-day work week trial for six months, where employees worked 80% of their typical hours while maintaining full pay.

The findings of the trial were mostly positive, with 95% of participating companies saying they wished to continue the four-day work week.

Companies also gave the four-day work week an 8.2 out of 10 score, while also giving the individual scores for other business outcomes:

  • Attraction of new employees (8.3) 
  • Productivity (7) 
  • Performance (6.8)

The report also noted a 44% decrease in number of sick and personal days, as well as an 8.6% decrease in average resignation rates.

Professor Juliet Schor of Boston College, lead researcher on the programme, said the four-day work week has a "remarkable capacity" to improve employee well-being and social outcomes.

"Almost two thirds of employees experienced reductions in burnout, while 38% felt less stressed during the trial. People were exercising more, getting better sleep and generally more satisfied with their time," Schor said.