Work less, braai more?

by Bianca Golz

Tomorrow is Heritage Day, and we’re all looking forward to a bonus day off and that obligatory braai with the family. Many of us are also dreading playing catch-up at our desks on Wednesday, wondering how it’s really possible to juggle productivity with rest and mental health.

But did you know that for many companies around the globe, the 4-day workweek isn’t a special occasion? It’s the norm. And these companies’ employees aren’t constantly struggling to keep their heads above water; they’ve streamlined their workdays to be just as productive, if not more so.

The goal of this shift? To produce a happier, healthier workforce and results-oriented (rather than clock-watching) company cultures.

But how can this approach possibly work?

4 Day Week Global believes they’ve got the recipe for success with their 100-80-100 model (100% of the pay in 80% of the time and in exchange for a commitment to delivering 100% of the output).

The NPO (which is also one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2024) recently led the world’s largest four-day workweek trial. It was a major success, with most companies adopting the policy permanently. After a year, the majority reported positive impacts on employee well-being, reduced staff turnover, and improved recruitment. Unsurprisingly, employees also reported greater job satisfaction.

Could South Africa be next?

Do I think South Africa’s ready to make the transition? Perhaps… if we’re willing to swap ‘African time’ for optimising our time! According to 4 Day Week Global, most companies transitioning to a 4-day workweek implement three key changes:

1. They significantly reduce and restructure meetings.
2. They make more intentional use of technology.
3. They redesign the workday to include distinct periods for:

• Deep work (and, I’d imagine, they also adopt an outcomes-focused approach in everything they do – P.S. thanks, Natalia, for transforming the way we work with this golden nugget??)
• Collaboration
• Breaks
• Social interaction

And get this: research indicates that the average employee loses a significant portion of their day – around 2-3 hours – to unproductive meetings, ineffective technology use, and distractions. In short, a 4-day week is achievable for many, but it’s currently hidden beneath inefficient and outdated work practices.

As the founders of 4 Day Week Global say, soon the question won’t be whether a 4-day work week is possible, but rather “what does a good 4-day work week look like?”

Maybe there’s hope that this clumsy work/life balancing act could soon stabilise.

Until then, enjoy Heritage Day and an extra, well-deserved breather. Put your skaaptjoppies on the braai and take your self-care off the backburner!

Mindful Musings

What the world was musing over this past week

Let them eat dirt!

Toddlers do it, and apparently, adults should be, too. TikTok beauty and wellness influencers – deemed “crunchers” – claim that eating dirt improves gut and skin health… and science backs them up!

Tanzania plans to build Africa’s longest bridge

If everything goes according to plan, the 31-mile bridge will be completed in 2028, connecting the mainland to the Zanzibar islands.

SA’s tourism industry on the up

Our arrivals increased by 40% in 2023, according to Euromonitor – and experts predict we’ll exceed 10 million arrivals before the end of 2024.

Scratch that

A hippo in the Sabi Sands Nature Reserve had an itch he couldn’t scratch. But he found a way to get the job done, and the resultant video is hilarious.

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