NutraCast: How Motherlove's 4-day work week boosts productivity

23-Jun-2023 - Last updated on 15-Dec-2023 at 17:47 GMT

Nearly 95% of people desire a flexible work schedule, with flexibility ranking only second to compensation when it comes to what determines workplace satisfaction. This is according to new research from Future Forum, Slack’s research consortium, which surveyed over 10,000 workers across the globe.

Motherlove, an herbal products company for expecting and new moms, introduced a four-day work week three years ago. Silencia Cox, co-owner and CEO at Motherlove, hasn’t looked back since.

“We are a company primarily of women–75% women, which means that there's a lot of working parents on our staff. So some things that we've decided to incorporate into our culture really is around work-life balance. We started implementing about three years ago, a four-day work week. This is to help address and balance out childcare needs as well as just having some more time with your family, not just the weekend,” explained Cox.

Cox said the shorter workweek has allowed her to strike a balance between employee satisfaction and work productivity.

“People work harder when they get to rest and play harder when they're not working. So it's been a great retention tool for us,” said Cox. “Honestly, I think productivity has gone up.”

To hear more on work-life balance at Motherlove and the founder’s rustic beginnings in a teepee, listen to the NutraCast.

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