Working hard or hardly working? How about both?
Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia (IONS) launched a pilot program involving 3 other non-profits to test out a 4-day work week. There was no reduction in hours, this means an 8 to 10 hour day depending on whether you do 32 hours or 40. This pilot also includes New Dawn Enterprises, the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, and the Ecology Action Centre.
Stephanie Gilbert, an associate professor of management and marketing at Cape Breton University, was tasked by IONS to analyze the results of each pilot.
Her findings include a number of positive results, including:
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Each non-profit reported a better work-life balance with little to no decrease in productivity.
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The organizations noticed a significant decrease in burnout and a significant decrease in stress over the course of this pilot.
- Some employees reported a reduced intention to quit leading these organizations to anticipate that this program will induce a better employee retention rate.
Municipal offices in the provinces are offering similar options to eligible roles . The municipality of Barrington adopted the policy last year, Guysborough county found success in their pilot program in the early months of the pandemic, and this week Cumberland county voted in favour of adopting the practice after a staff survey showed 93% of respondents were in favour.
