‘We instantly regretted it’: Why one company ditched its four-day work week

After moving to a strict four-day working week, RedSprout Media bumped up against challenges and has since shifted back to a five-day week, but one that offers more flexible options

Content marketing agency RedSprout Media introduced a four-day week with the hope of making the most of some of the improved employee wellbeing and productivity benefits many claim it brings. However, a month after implementing the change, the company's shortened work week was scrapped.

“We made a decision recently to move to a four-day week. We instantly regretted it,” says company co-founder Olivia Webb. 

The initial change in working hours saw RedSprout’s eight employees go from working a regular five-day week to having Fridays off. Webb hoped that by giving people more free time, they would come into work “refreshed, happier and therefore more productive”.