Path is joining the four day week movement

We believe that health, creativity and productivity go hand in hand and we’re committed to building our business on that basis.

Path is a four day week business. We believe that health, creativity and productivity go hand in hand and we’re committed to building our business on that basis.

Like many of the other businesses experimenting with a 4 day working week, it’s a learning process and will take some time to work out the best way to balance goals for the business and the health of our people. Like anything else, there are pros, cons and trade-offs.

Fortunately, there are now many others who have already or are starting on this journey with us. Though many of you will have heard of Andrew Barnes and Prudential Guardian in New Zealand. He’s now founded 4 Day Week Global to help other organisations with the shift. There have been high profile trials at Microsoft and in Iceland. I had inspiration closer to hand however. My old Livework colleague Chris Downs has been running Normally four days a week for years now.

As a sociologist by training, I know how much of what we assume is fixed was once a new idea and that what’s taken for granted in one human context is alien in others. I’m aware of the privilege I have to even be considering this. Over the years, I’ve personally experimented with many different styles of working, from 9-5, short days, compressed hours (and even shift work). A four day week seems to strike a good balance and I’m excited to participate in a movement that has only accelerated as the pandemic has reminded us all that things can be radically different.

Whether the four day week is ultimately the best way to achieve great outcomes without sacrificing our health or not, I believe the principles that will guide us are sound:

• Being clear about what we’ve said we will do so that our people, clients and partners know where they stand
• Being flexible so that people with different life circumstances can participate
• Focusing on outcomes so we can be confident the balance is working

As always, please reach out to talk to us. We’re happy to chat about how a four day week is working for us and our clients.