At the start of 2023, inspired by the 2022 UK pilot led by the 4 Day Week Campaign, Baker Consultants set out to trial a four-day working week. Our goal was to enhance work/life balance, reduce burnout and attract top talent in a competitive industry, whilst maintaining high standards for our clients.
We experimented with different working patterns before settling on closing the office every Friday, rather than compressing hours our using a rotating rota system. This approach allowed the whole team to focus fully from Monday to Thursday and enjoy guaranteed three-day weekends, without compromising project delivery.
The trial ran through both the winter and peak surveys seasons, testing whether a people-focused consultancy could thrive with one day off each week. The results were encouraging: the team embraced more efficient working methods, productivity remained strong and employees reported improvements in well-being and work/life balance. Word clouds collected during the trial showed how staff used their extra day off, shifting from routine admin tasks to hobbies, family time and outdoor pursuits as time went on.
Some learnings from the 4-day week trial included:
The trial was so successful that the four-day week has now become a permanent policy at Baker Consultants. Beyond enhancing well-being, it has strengthened team collaboration, increased efficiency and supported the recruitment of new talent. We remain committed to continuous innovation, using technology and smarter working practices to maintain high-quality ecological consultancy whilst keeping our team’s health and sustainability a priority.
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If you’re interested in joining our team, please get in touch with our Consultancy Director, Gavin Ward, on careers@bakerconsultants.co.uk or call us on 01629 593 958 for an informal chat about our team, culture and the current opportunities we have on offer.