Introducing a 4-day workweek: Our Community 

Through 2021, COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in Melbourne meant people had to work from home where they could, including workers at Our Community, a company that provides training, leadership and technology to not-for-profit and grantmaking organisations. Over time, Group Managing Director Denis Moriarty realised hybrid work could fundamentally change people’s work–life balance. Recognising the risks of not offering more flexible working options, the company introduced a 4-day workweek.   

“The 4-day workweek was a vehicle for revolution within the company, to show people a different world of work”. Denis Moriarty, Group Managing Director.  

Our Community contacted 4 Day Week Global, a not-for-profit organisation that helps companies implement the 4-day workweek. The preparation phase involved workshopping and consulting workers on effective and efficient methods to cut unnecessary processes and restructure daily work procedures. Workers received education on what the 4-day workweek would look like and strategies for higher performance in the workplace. An internal survey produced many ideas for productivity improvement, such as redefining tasks and roles, meetings and the organisation’s structure.   

The next phase involved applying these ideas. Our Community used external resources to monitor workplace productivity, offering individual coaching and tailored workshops to support workers to feel mentally healthy and productive in the workplace.   

Our Community acknowledged the obvious cost of a 4-day workweek: people receive the same income yet work fewer hours. However, research shows this cost is mitigated by increased productivity brought about by happier workers.   

An issue for the company was creating the same financial productivity incentive for part-time workers: that is, how could they support people who already work 4 days or fewer to achieve the same increased productivity levels as full-time workers. For those staff, the solutions were mixed, with staff offered additional hours to bring them up to the 4-day threshold (to achieve 20% more paid time), pay increases, or additional leave.   

Restructuring to the 4-day workweek is still new for Our Community, but the company has seen significant growth in productivity and staff mental health and wellbeing. But more than that, the 4-day workweek is a holistic workplace approach, emphasising success not just in a person’s work life, but also their personal life.  

“It was an extraordinary moment in the company’s history. You can imagine the message it sent to staff. It told of our confidence and value in the person, not the worker.” Denis Moriarty, Group Managing Director.  

“Working 4 days means I’m much more focused on my family, my health and my life in general. ... I take that gratitude and calm into my office, and it helps me make better decisions and stay focused on the essentials.” Matthew Schulz, Journalist