Four-Day Workweek Reduces CSO Burnout

Following Covid and its burden on social impact organizations—as well as people generally gaining perspective on their life, values and preferences (including the benefits and time saving of remote work)—alternative arrangements like shorter workweeks are gaining ground. Mind The Gap Consulting’s guide details the benefits of the four-day workweek for CSO leaders, including a roadmap, and options for shifting to this model while keeping productivity and social impact. In order to sensitize organizations for this transition, the guide recommends leaders “phase in” the shorter week before its adopted through these intermediary steps:

• Assessing—do your own research to determine if this model makes sense for your organization
• Discussing impacts—have a general discussion among staff to gauge the level of support among management
• Announcing it in advance as a “pilot”—so you can inform stakeholders, the board, partners about the transition months ahead to manage reactions and as a buffer in case of pushback or failure

Based on its founders’ experience, Mind The Gap also recommends:

• Keeping the workload and pay the same, signalling the CSO’s funding and productivity aren't going to change
• Blocking calendars for ‘no-meeting Fridays’ before the change, so staff gets used Thursday (deadlines) as the ‘end of week’
• Scenario planning for when demands might be made on a Friday, so staff is prepared
• Aligning everyone's days off to minimize disruption and get the most out of an extended weekend