What It’s Like Working a Four Day Work Week at Buffer

Right before I joined Buffer in 2022 as a information author, I experienced my honest share of operate experience: careers and internships for the duration of each undergrad and graduate faculty. I worked a total time, 40-hour a 7 days, position at a nonprofit when I was 22, and as a Television/motion picture journalist at a common publication. But it was not until finally I designed the move to Buffer that I was introduced to what has felt to me like a radical principle: the 4 day workweek.

When I to start with viewed the articles author opening on Buffer’s Journey website page – I did a double acquire. Out of all the employment I have utilized for (and believe in me, there have been a good deal) it was the first time I experienced at any time seen a company promote a shorter function week on their positive aspects web page. And to explain, at Buffer, we take Fridays off but are continue to paid our whole income.

Buffer has been a absolutely distant firm since its inception in 2010, which is previously than several produced the swap. We then moved to a shorter perform week in 2020.The go didn’t occur as a shock for quite a few who ended up presently common with Buffer’s society and our CEO Joel Gascoigne’s vision for the business, together with iOS engineer Jordan Morgan who has been a Bufferoo (our term for Buffer teammate) given that 2015.

“It’s a little something that did not shock me, but in a great way,” said Jordan. “Because Joel is so daring with how he operates the corporation. And that is why I like operating here… he’s generally on the lookout for us.”

Most authorities agree on the advantages of the four working day operate 7 days, not only for personnel, but for the organization as a complete. I’ll element what my knowledge with a shorter operate 7 days has been like alongside with sharing how some of my teammates commit their Fridays off.

Why move to a four day do the job 7 days in the first spot?

The selection to shift to a shorter week in 2020 stemmed from a wish to offer a lot more adaptability and assistance to Buffer employees all through a tough time. Not only ended up the early months of the pandemic specifically difficult for many on a individual amount, but it also intricate the function-lifestyle balance for people today throughout the world. A survey done in late 2020 uncovered that 70 p.c of workers started working during weekends though 45 % worked more hours than ahead of the pandemic as the lockdown actions blurred boundaries in between the business and house.

To begin with, the 4 working day get the job done 7 days was just a trial operate at Buffer, but following various months and an internal survey, it grew to become a permanent fixture in 2021. The survey outcomes confirmed that our staff even now felt successful, like they experienced far more autonomy, and they described feeling happier, too. As somebody who has just wrapped up four months at Buffer, I as well can attest to all of these gains.

What it’s been like functioning only 4 times a week

I will say, it did acquire me a couple months to change to the routine alter at to start with. It was peculiar when Thursday rolled about and people would say “have a excellent weekend” in Slack. I held forgetting that meetings couldn’t be scheduled on Fridays and close of 7 days deadlines wanted to be achieved by Thursday. There was even a bit of stress on my part as I wondered if the perform was seriously doable in just four times.

But gradually, I grew to become self-assured that this schedule was basically practical. I’ve been able to fit in all my projects, attend all meetings, and I even have time for weekly donut calls (our optional weekly pair calls with a further Buffer teammate). Mentally, understanding that I only experienced four doing the job days to finish my jobs seemed to strengthen my efficiency as well.

Heather You, a main engineer at Buffer, reported her group has also tailored to the shorter months by having excellent time administration and remaining intentional with all of their communication.

“We genuinely study to use our time properly and efficiently so that no one particular is anticipated to get the job done for a longer period times or on their day off,” she explained. “We test to retain our [meetings] to a minimal and work collectively asynchronously when we can.”

This form of flexibility is uncommon to discover – at least in my experience. At the moment in the U.S., droves of people today are quitting jobs the place they are undervalued and underpaid, nonetheless overworked. I am so grateful that my practical experience in Buffer has been the opposite of that. In simple fact, this has been my initial job exactly where I was not envisioned to constantly look at in with my supervisor. In a time when some organizations surveil their personnel and tie staff well worth to output, this sort of liberty is fairly liberating. Not only do I feel like my function and view is valued at Buffer, but so is my time.

How do we expend Friday’s off?

The terrific detail about obtaining Fridays off is that every single a person is distinct. Some Fridays I sleep in until finally 11 am. Other times, I program any essential errands or appointments. I’ve also addressed it as a travel day for shorter journeys so I can increase my family vacation time. There have also been a couple of Fridays in which I’ve employed the working day for overflow perform to guarantee a easy commence for the future 7 days.

I’m not alone in executing so as it is actually frequent to use Fridays as an added day to capture up when needed. I’ve uncovered that obtaining an possibility for an overflow working day has been so beneficial. It offers a lot more flexibility in my agenda because if anything comes up through my do the job 7 days, I know I can commit a couple hrs on Friday to get back on monitor.

I have been curious how my teammates devote their Fridays as effectively, so I spoke with five of them to master a lot more. Here is what they experienced to say.

Expending time with spouse and children

Jordan is an IOS engineer based in Missouri and has been with Buffer for about six yrs.

The moment the faculties opened back up in particular person, I was so psyched because I received to acquire [my kids] to college in the morning [on Fridays]. And it’s a minor slice of existence that I have under no circumstances finished in advance of because my spouse stays at household and takes treatment of all that. So I form of bought to be a stay at residence dad for a working day. And it truly is so effective since I can give my wife a split from some of people obligations for the reason that being a keep at dwelling parent is tremendous tricky and hectic, and we have a few kids.

My son is so excited on Fridays. He enjoys it, due to the fact he is aware I am gonna acquire him [to school] and I’ll be in the car. So he usually wakes up with a skip in his phase on Friday mornings. And then my young two will get to knowledge that later on, as well.

On paying out Fridays with his spouse

We walk a path on Friday mornings, and just capture up, you know, just acquire a breather from the week. And then we go to Concentrate on literally every single one Friday. I just get to do all individuals enjoyment, silly minor points that you might acquire for granted, like having your little ones to college, heading to the health club, and then grocery purchasing at Target.

Finding errands accomplished

Heather is a main engineer primarily based in New York and has been with Buffer for 1 yr.

Having a 4 working day perform week considering the fact that joining Buffer has been unquestionably amazing. I’m happier and get pleasure from my work extra than at any time. The general atmosphere and attitudes of my colleagues are just so supportive and favourable, and there is a ton of rely on. I identified that at Buffer, I have a ton more heads down time than I’ve at any time experienced in prior roles where by I’ve labored five days.

The four working day workweek also presents a whole lot of versatility. A surprise for me is that I’ve discovered myself finding caught up with most of my annual overall health examine ups because it’s a lot less complicated to agenda an appointment on a weekday somewhat than on a weekend.

A whole lot of the chores that I had set up to be completed over a weekend can now be spread more than a few days, which in fact provides me time to rest and mirror. Fridays feel like bonus times for me, the place I have a prospect to capture up on any get the job done associated or particular tasks that I could not get to in excess of the 7 days.

I have also been able to use this time to sit down and get a training course on a new language I’d been seeking to discover much more about, loosen up and read a book, or go out and come across a new pastime, and then I’m recharged and prepared to consider on a new 7 days.

An overflow day

Ismail is a product designer primarily based in Morocco and has been with Buffer for 9 months.

The  four working day workweek has a good influence on my operate-lifetime harmony and perfectly-becoming. Possessing a shorter 7 days has served me concentrate on my perform and I am also equipped to relaxation and restore above the for a longer time weekends. This also enables me to commit good high-quality time with close friends and loved ones.

I did have some question at the commencing, but I acquired that I was in a position to be a lot more successful than what I considered. Prioritizing my tasks served me remain targeted and I was truthfully amazed to be ready to get all of my perform accomplished.

I invest my Friday deliberately –  it is ordinarily an opportunity to make health professionals and other appointments without the need of using time absent from my position.

For me, acquiring a four times operate 7 days does not mean that I never do anything at all operate similar on Fridays. Often, I use the day to put together for the future week and to also capture up with the standard news that I skipped all through the weekdays. It actually aids to far better kick off the upcoming 7 days.

Traveling the globe

Octa is a senior buyer advocate and has been with Buffer for above 8 a long time. He doesn’t have a dwelling base as he’s presently touring the earth entire time.

I absolutely would say that the 4 day workweek has been life transforming – potentially the most remarkable point that has happened since I joined Buffer. It has eventually brought that perform everyday living equilibrium that all of us are constantly browsing for.

Getting that excess day of the week lets your program to totally free up to attempt new things. So in my case, the rationale why it truly is been super astounding is mainly because it type of feels like I’m owning a mini prolonged weekend, you know, like a holiday vacation, just about every week in whichever area I am at. It is served me to sense more successful and happier. There’s not plenty of phrases to determine how extraordinary it really is been.

On his exceptional routine doing work Fridays as a result of Monday

Because I am often touring it seriously won’t make any difference – Monday to Sunday – it can be all the similar. It truly is somewhat greater to have my rest days in the middle of the 7 days, due to the fact in terms of sights and highlights of whichever position I am at, they are likely to be considerably less crowded on weekdays. So for example, if I fly, it can be usually more cost-effective to fly on weekdays than on the weekends.

On his really like for traveling

I’ve been traveling now total time for eight decades. When I initial started, I imagined I would do it for four a long time. But then it retained receiving far better and much better. I necessarily mean, to me, it really is a life-style. I am tremendous grateful that the Buffer group has constantly been super supportive of this.

I just really like the environment. Each individual area I go, every individual I meet, it can be like a new tale.

Fridays grow to be “Free-days”

Julia is a senior customer advocate dependent in Los Angeles and has been with Buffer for above six years.

I just cannot visualize likely again to not operating a 4-working day workweek. Considering that we begun experimenting with it about 2 decades in the past I’ve made use of the time off in so quite a few various techniques – which is the brilliant issue about it.

I have been on schedules with taking Mondays off and Fridays off, and am at this time on the Fridays-off agenda (since our Advocacy group has staggered days so we can sustain world protection). I have found my groove by applying it as a ‘free’ day, not just an extension of the weekend. It sets me up for a weekend that is truly restful – not overtaken by errands and “to-do’s”. I love that there is a cost-free working day, if I have to have it, upon which I can depend to capture up on work. I really feel less rushed with our mindset of obtaining the correct factors carried out about cramming the similar amount of stuff into a shorter week.

Like my coworkers, the 4 working day get the job done week has also manufactured these types of a beneficial impression on my general very well remaining. Not only do I really feel like my general performance and output at perform has improved, but I also have a lot more time to live my lifestyle and do the things that make me happiest.

We enjoy to share our encounters all over the 4 working day workweek with others. Send out us any thoughts you could have on the subject on Twitter!