"If we're all happier to be at work because we're well-rested, I think we're going to be better off in the long run."
Bugsnax and Octodad developer Young Horses has implemented a four-day workweek to find a better work-life balance. As reported by Axios, the studio made the switch permanent after unanimously voting in favor of a trial run back in July.
Young Horses co-founder and president Phil Tibitoski explained that full-time employees were previously expected to work 35 hours per week, so transitioning to a 32 hour week didn't require a huge push.
"We know what we have to get done and by when, or we're making our own schedule entirely and things get done when they get done," said Tibitoski. "[So we] might as well give people the peace of mind that they can relax doing their own thing on their own time than have someone feel guilty for doing it at work."
The co-founder also conceded the change was easier to implement due to Young Horses' more modest size. "Measuring our small team's output is simple relative to those bigger studios, so our trial period and decision-making is faster than a studio who has to get buy-in from so many departments and investors," he continued.
That said, Tibitoski believes a four-day schedule is possible at larger companies, but claims it would require them to buy-in to the notion from the top down and rethink their goals.
"[There are] people who will always want more, who are never satisfied with what they have, and who will sacrifice the well-being of their employees to get there," said Tibitoski, "[but] If we're all happier to be at work because we're well-rested, I think we're going to be better off in the long run."
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