As we celebrate Self Care Day 2024, it is a perfect opportunity to reflect on the initiatives we’ve implemented to enhance the well-being of our employees. One of our most impactful changes has been the adoption of a four-day condensed working week, which has brought a multitude of benefits to our workforce.
The Journey to a Four-Day WorkWeek
Our decision to transition to a four-day workweek was driven by a desire to improve work-life balance, boost productivity, and foster a healthier work environment. Since its implementation, we’ve witnessed significant positive changes across the board.
As we honour Self Care Day 2024, we celebrate the success of our four-day workweek in enhancing employee welfare. We asked several employees of Clarity Simplicity how the hourday work week has benefited their mental wellbeing and what they do for self-care on their day off.
Sinead Machin – Senior Associate Solicitor: The introduction of a condensed four-day workweek in January 2024 has had a massively positive impact on my mental well-being. Having every Friday off has allowed me to prioritise self-care and my own wellbeing. I personally feel that it has significantly improving my overall mental health. I started running, progressing from barely being able to run for 1 minute at a time, to successfully completing a 10k and participating in the Edinburgh half marathon as part of a relay team. The Friday’s allowed me to train for my longer runs. Beyond physical exercise, these Fridays have provided me with valuable opportunities to catch up with friends and family, or deal with mundane life admin which allows me to spend time with my wife and our friends. This dedicated day off each week has enhanced my sense of balance, reduced stress, and contributed to a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Scott Stevenson – Associate Solicitor – : It’s been a massive benefit to me. I am now able to do things that assist with my health and well-being such as visiting family or friends, going to the gym or playing golf. I believe I feel far less stressed as I have additional day of the week to relax and switch off from work. The weeks seem to fly past and my mindset feels like it is a shorter week and more manageable as I am never usually working more than 4 days in a row.
The four-day working week allows me time to decompress after a busy week. That one extra day over the course of a weekend has such a positive impact, and gears me up for the next busy week ahead. It allows me to do things which are normally preserved for the standard weekend, for example the weekly food shop, cooking or cleaning, allowing my Saturdays and Sundays to be free for the fun things in life.
Emma King, Director: I have opted in to the condensed working week- which some may view as odd as ‘you’re the boss’, ‘how could you possibly’ but, because of the amazing team that I have, and a strict adherence to boundaries and time/work management it has worked extremely well for me. Put shortly- with good planning anything can work.
I would say that its benefited my mental health as, whilst the condensed hours are intense, I find that I have focused productivity and a free/clear mind come the weekend, which now starts on a Thursday evening. I find that I’m achieving a much healthier work life balance which, in turn, allows me to work better and smarter on my working days.
In terms of self-care- I’ve been doing a lot of travelling as being off the Friday lends itself to weekend breaks with Paris, Copenhagen, London and Pisa all visited. When not away the Director of Fun and I get to enjoy long walks enjoying the beautiful scenery of Scotland and getting in to the great outdoors.
