Are Indian Start-Ups Ready to Embrace the 4-Day Work Week?
Are Indian Start-Ups Ready to Embrace the 4-Day Work Week? Well, let me break it down for you. Indian start-ups are grappling with two major issues: employee attrition and productivity. But hey, some of these start-ups have taken a bold step and decided to give the 4-day work week a shot, and guess what? It seems to be working like a charm. This trend is about to catch fire, my friends.
Now, before we dive in, let’s take a look at the countries that have already hopped on the 4-day work week bandwagon. The Netherlands is doing it, France is doing it, Germany is doing it, Denmark is doing it. It’s like a cool kid club, and everybody’s pretty darn happy about it. They’ve even seen productivity shoot up by a whopping 40% in some cases. Talk about a win-win!
Let me hit you with some mind-blowing examples. In Iceland, when they tried out the 4-day work week between 2015 and 2019, workers reported less stress, burnout took a hike, and their work-life balance saw a major improvement. In 2019, Microsoft conducted a test run of the 4-day work week in Japan, and guess what? Productivity soared by a mind-boggling 40%. And guess who else loved the change? Yep, a whopping 90% of the employees. A New Zealand firm tested this policy in 2018, and due to reduced stress and better employee engagement, they decided to make it a permanent thing.
But hold on, folks, it’s not just happening abroad. Even during the tumultuous second wave of the pandemic, Indian companies like Swiggy, ad agencies like DDB Mudra and Mullenlowe Lintas, and cybersecurity firm TAC Security gave the 4-day work week a whirl, and they reported some pretty darn good results.
So, here’s my take. I firmly believe that implementing a 4-day work week will be an absolute game-changer for the Indian start-up ecosystem. But let’s not ignore the pros and cons, shall we?
On the bright side, you get a glorious 3-day weekend! Heck, you could even throw in a mid-week day off just to keep things spicy. Working for only 4 days has a psychological impact that tunes employees into a more professional mindset. Those long breaks? Say goodbye, my friend. Plus, let’s not forget about the cost savings for the company – electricity bills and internet usage take a dip, and there’s less need for printing heaps of materials. Efficiency levels shoot through the roof!
Now, onto the family front. Microsoft went all out and gave special paid leave to workers for their fifth day, while also subsidizing expenses for volunteering, classes, and family trips. The result? A whopping 40% boost in productivity. And before you argue that Japan’s culture is different from India’s, let me remind you that human emotions don’t undergo a dramatic transformation across borders.
Ah, the joys of leisure and play! Having Fridays off means you can tackle those pesky errands, go shopping, pay bills, do your banking, catch a movie, all without the usual crowds. It’s like your own personal playground!
But, my friends, let’s not turn a blind eye to the cons. You’ll have to put in an extra 2 hours each day, but hey, let’s be real, most start-ups are already working crazy hours, so it may not be a deal-breaker. Another downside is that your work week and your friends’ or family’s schedules may not sync up, and planning activities on workdays might be a tad tricky compared to a traditional 5-day work week. Now, India is poised to become the land of start-ups, and a 4-day work week might just be the booster shot they need after the pandemic. But hey, that’s just my two cents. I’d love to hear your thoughts and kickstart this conversation. After all, productivity lies at the heart of it all, and if we can supercharge our productivity, well, my friends, the sky’s the limit!
#Branding #BrandStrategy #Startup #indianstartup #indianentrepreneurs #workweek #productivity
Hemant Mishrra
About the author: Hemant is the Founder & CEO of branding and marketing firm ”Neeti Brand Accelerator” in Mumbai. He is a brand strategist and has worked with more than 150 brands during last two decades. He is also mentor and coach to SMEs and startups. You can visit the website www.www.neeti.biz. You can contact him at hemant@neeti.biz
