3 critical steps to implementing a 4-day workweek

Published June 23, 2022 2:00 PM EDT 2 Min Read

In 2020, when digital marketing company Feathr transitioned to a four-day workweek, it wasn’t just to give time back to its employees. It was out of necessity.

The company, which provides marketing support to non-profits, saw business halt as COVID made its impact. Rather than conserve cash with a round of layoffs, co-founder and CEO Aleksander Levental decided to implement temporary 20% pay cuts for his 160 employees — and soften the financial blow by cutting work hours, too.

When Levental originally introduced his plan to his team, there was a mix of gratefulness and fear, he says.

“COVID made everything uncertain, and it’s never a good thing that the company you’re working at is cutting pay,” he says. “But people understood that the pay cut was for a specific reason. Still, I think most people would have rather worked on Fridays and received full pay.”

Stephanie Schomer

Editor-in-chief

Stephanie Schomer is the editor-in-chief of Employee Benefit News. She was most recently the deputy editor of Entrepreneur magazine and previously held positions at Entertainment Weekly, … Read full bio

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