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

Right before I joined Buffer in 2022 as a articles author, I experienced my reasonable share of function experience: employment and internships in the course of the two undergrad and graduate university. I worked a whole time, 40-hour a week, placement at a nonprofit when I was 22, and as a Tv set/motion picture journalist at a common publication. But it wasn’t until I manufactured the move to Buffer that I was introduced to what has felt to me like a radical concept: the 4 working day workweek.

When I to start with considered the material writer opening on Buffer’s Journey web site – I did a double just take. Out of all the work I have used for (and trust me, there have been a great deal) it was the first time I experienced at any time seen a corporation advertise a shorter perform 7 days on their gains page. And to clarify, at Buffer, we take Fridays off but are however paid our whole salary.

Buffer has been a entirely distant enterprise because its inception in 2010, which is before than a lot of made the switch. We then moved to a shorter do the job week in 2020.The transfer didn’t appear as a surprise for quite a few who were being previously common with Buffer’s culture and our CEO Joel Gascoigne’s eyesight for the company, including iOS engineer Jordan Morgan who has been a Bufferoo (our expression for Buffer teammate) due to the fact 2015.

“It’s something that didn’t surprise me, but in a good way,” reported Jordan. “Because Joel is so daring with how he operates the business. And that’s why I like doing the job here… he’s usually on the lookout for us.”

Most experts concur on the positive aspects of the four day work week, not only for workforce, but for the organization as a complete. I’ll detail what my working experience with a shorter perform 7 days has been like alongside with sharing how some of my teammates expend their Fridays off.

Why go to a 4 working day function week in the 1st place?

The decision to shift to a shorter week in 2020 stemmed from a motivation to deliver extra flexibility and aid to Buffer staff members throughout a difficult time. Not only ended up the early months of the pandemic significantly tough for several on a individual stage, but it also intricate the do the job-everyday living equilibrium for people today throughout the world. A survey performed in late 2020 located that 70 % of workers started off functioning for the duration of weekends when 45 p.c labored more several hours than right before the pandemic as the lockdown steps blurred boundaries amongst the business office and house.

To begin with, the four day do the job week was just a demo run at Buffer, but just after several months and an interior study, it grew to become a lasting fixture in 2021. The survey outcomes confirmed that our staff however felt productive, like they experienced far more autonomy, and they reported sensation happier, also. As anyone who has just wrapped up 4 months at Buffer, I far too can attest to all of these rewards.

What it is been like doing the job only four days a 7 days

I will say, it did acquire me a number of weeks to change to the program change at initially. It was strange when Thursday rolled about and folks would say “have a excellent weekend” in Slack. I stored forgetting that conferences couldn’t be scheduled on Fridays and conclude of week deadlines desired to be met by Thursday. There was even a bit of stress on my section as I puzzled if the operate was actually doable in just four times.

But progressively, I became assured that this timetable was essentially sensible. I’ve been equipped to match in all my projects, go to all meetings, and I even have time for weekly donut calls (our optional weekly pair phone calls with an additional Buffer teammate). Mentally, knowing that I only had 4 doing work days to finish my duties appeared to boost my productivity as effectively.

Heather You, a main engineer at Buffer, explained her workforce has also adapted to the shorter months by acquiring superior time management and staying intentional with all of their interaction.

“We definitely discover to use our time wisely and successfully so that no 1 is expected to work extended times or on their day off,” she reported. “We consider to retain our [meetings] to a minimal and perform jointly asynchronously when we can.”

This type of overall flexibility is scarce to find – at least in my practical experience. At this time in the U.S., droves of individuals are quitting employment where by they’re undervalued and underpaid, however overworked. I am so grateful that my practical experience in Buffer has been the reverse of that. In simple fact, this has been my first occupation where by I wasn’t expected to frequently test in with my manager. In a time when some organizations surveil their staff and tie personnel worth to output, this variety of flexibility is very liberating. Not only do I sense like my work and opinion is valued at Buffer, but so is my time.

How do we invest Friday’s off?

The great thing about owning Fridays off is that every single just one is various. Some Fridays I sleep in until 11 am. Other periods, I agenda any vital errands or appointments. I’ve also dealt with it as a journey working day for shorter trips so I can optimize my holiday time. There have also been a couple of Fridays in which I have utilised the day for overflow do the job to make certain a sleek start for the following 7 days.

I’m not alone in doing so as it’s basically prevalent to use Fridays as an extra working day to capture up when wanted. I’ve uncovered that owning an alternative for an overflow working day has been so valuable. It presents more overall flexibility in my schedule mainly because if a thing arrives up for the duration of my get the job done week, I know I can spend a pair several hours on Friday to get again on track.

I have been curious how my teammates devote their Fridays as nicely, so I spoke with 5 of them to master extra. Here is what they had to say.

Spending time with loved ones

Jordan is an IOS engineer dependent in Missouri and has been with Buffer for more than 6 several years.

As soon as the universities opened back again up in human being, I was so fired up for the reason that I got to acquire [my kids] to college in the morning [on Fridays]. And it truly is a minimal slice of lifestyle that I have hardly ever accomplished right before simply because my spouse stays at home and will take care of all that. So I form of bought to be a remain at residence father for a working day. And it is really so beneficial due to the fact I can give my wife a break from some of these responsibilities simply because remaining a keep at home mother or father is tremendous tricky and hectic, and we have a few little ones.

My son is so thrilled on Fridays. He loves it, for the reason that he knows I’m gonna acquire him [to school] and I am going to be in the car. So he constantly wakes up with a skip in his action on Friday mornings. And then my youthful two will get to experience that later on, way too.

On investing Fridays with his spouse

We stroll a trail on Friday mornings, and just catch up, you know, just choose a breather from the week. And then we go to Focus on literally each and every one Friday. I just get to do all those pleasurable, silly small things that you could possibly choose for granted, like taking your little ones to faculty, going to the fitness center, and then grocery searching at Focus on.

Finding errands completed

Heather is a core engineer dependent in New York and has been with Buffer for just one 12 months.

Owning a four day get the job done 7 days since becoming a member of Buffer has been unquestionably amazing. I’m happier and get pleasure from my work much more than at any time. The standard ambiance and attitudes of my colleagues are just so supportive and favourable, and there is a large amount of belief. I observed that at Buffer, I have a great deal much more heads down time than I’ve ever had in past roles where I have worked 5 times.

The 4 day workweek also offers a great deal of adaptability. A shock for me is that I’ve observed myself acquiring caught up with most of my yearly overall health check out ups considering the fact that it is a whole lot less complicated to program an appointment on a weekday relatively than on a weekend.

A whole lot of the chores that I had set up to be accomplished around a weekend can now be unfold around three times, which in fact gives me time to relaxation and reflect. Fridays really feel like reward times for me, wherever I have a chance to catch up on any work related or private jobs that I could not get to in excess of the week.

I have also been in a position to use this time to sit down and just take a program on a new language I’d been seeking to discover more about, unwind and read through a e-book, or go out and discover a new pastime, and then I’m recharged and completely ready to just take on a new week.

An overflow working day

Ismail is a product designer dependent in Morocco and has been with Buffer for nine months.

The  four working day workweek has a positive effects on my operate-everyday living stability and effectively-getting. Possessing a shorter 7 days has assisted me concentration on my operate and I am also ready to relaxation and restore more than the extended weekends. This also allows me to shell out fantastic excellent time with good friends and spouse and children.

I did have some question at the beginning, but I acquired that I was equipped to be much more successful than what I thought. Prioritizing my tasks assisted me stay targeted and I was actually astonished to be ready to get all of my do the job performed.

I devote my Friday intentionally –  it is commonly an opportunity to make physicians and other appointments with out using time absent from my occupation.

For me, getting a 4 days work 7 days does not imply that I do not do everything perform related on Fridays. Sometimes, I use the working day to put together for the future week and to also catch up with the basic information that I missed during the weekdays. It really allows to much better kick off the future week.

Touring the environment

Octa is a senior customer advocate and has been with Buffer for about 8 a long time. He does not have a property base as he’s at this time touring the planet entire time.

I undoubtedly would say that the four working day workweek has been daily life modifying – maybe the most amazing thing that has happened considering that I joined Buffer. It has eventually brought that perform lifestyle balance that all of us are always hunting for.

Obtaining that more working day of the week makes it possible for your routine to cost-free up to consider new items. So in my scenario, the cause why it can be been tremendous amazing is simply because it kind of feels like I’m owning a mini very long weekend, you know, like a trip, each and every 7 days in whichever area I am at. It is assisted me to feel more successful and happier. There is not more than enough terms to outline how remarkable it can be been.

On his special program functioning Fridays by means of Monday

For the reason that I am always touring it genuinely isn’t going to make a difference – Monday to Sunday – it really is all the similar. It really is slightly far better to have my rest days in the center of the 7 days, because in conditions of points of interest and highlights of whichever place I am at, they have a tendency to be fewer crowded on weekdays. So for illustration, if I fly, it truly is constantly more cost-effective to fly on weekdays than on the weekends.

On his enjoy for touring

I have been traveling now full time for eight a long time. When I initially started off, I considered I would do it for four many years. But then it retained receiving superior and better. I signify, to me, it can be a way of life. I am super grateful that the Buffer staff has usually been tremendous supportive of this.

I just love the planet. Each place I go, just about every particular person I fulfill, it really is like a new tale.

Fridays develop into “Free-days”

Julia is a senior customer advocate dependent in Los Angeles and has been with Buffer for more than 6 yrs.

I cannot envision going again to not operating a 4-day workweek. Due to the fact we started experimenting with it over 2 yrs in the past I’ve employed the time off in so numerous distinctive methods – which is the amazing thing about it.

I have been on schedules with getting Mondays off and Fridays off, and am currently on the Fridays-off routine (considering the fact that our Advocacy workforce has staggered days so we can preserve international protection). I have identified my groove by making use of it as a ‘free’ working day, not just an extension of the weekend. It sets me up for a weekend that is actually restful – not overtaken by errands and “to-do’s”. I enjoy that there is a absolutely free day, if I need to have it, on which I can count to capture up on get the job done. I come to feel significantly less rushed with our way of thinking of getting the suitable items finished around cramming the similar quantity of things into a shorter week.

Like my coworkers, the 4 working day work 7 days has also produced these kinds of a favourable effect on my over-all very well being. Not only do I come to feel like my functionality and output at operate has enhanced, but I also have more time to reside my lifetime and do the factors that make me happiest.

We appreciate to share our experiences all-around the 4 day workweek with many others. Mail us any issues you may possibly have on the subject matter on Twitter!