Dutch software company AFAS officially implements four-day work week
AFAS is officially implementing a four-day work week after a successful trial period. According to the Leusden-based software company, the trial period showed that an extra day off gives employees more rest and energy, while productivity didn’t decline and revenue increased.
AFAS started experimenting with a four-day work week in January, closing its offices for its 720 employees in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the Caribbean on Fridays and calling this a “development day.”
“We created a kind of personal day, somewhere between work and free time. A day without obligations, yet with a certain moral charge,” HR-director Britt Breure said in a company blog. “You have time for yourself, the loved ones around you, and to do volunteer work, for example. And, if necessary, you can just open your laptop for AFAS.”
That’s part of why AFAS decided to close its offices for everyone on a Friday, instead of letting employees choose when they want to take off. That way, no one is working and there is less chance of a colleague needing your help, Breure said.
During the trial period, the company asked cultural anthropologist Jitske Kramer to evaluate the experiment and speak to employees about their experiences. The experiences were overwhelmingly positive, she concluded.
Employees enjoyed the extra free day to spend on their own development, however they chose, and managed to maintain their productivity by planning carefully and eliminating extra tasks. This does require more focus and discipline, and as a result, some employees experience a higher workload. But the consensus is that the advantages of the shorter work week outweigh the disadvantages.
The company also deployed AI to lower the workload by taking over some of the simpler tasks. “We use AI, for example, to record conversations and send simple emails. This frees up free time for truly valuable customer contact,” Breure said.
