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The test worked: The employees of a Solothurn IT company are more productive with the four-day week. In an interview, the boss explains how employees can work less and still earn the same amount.
In an interview, Fabian Schneider, Managing Director of Seerow, explains how it works.
Seerow
The company was able to increase productivity through better work-life balance. Accordingly, the employees do more on the working days … (symbol image)
imago images/Addictive Stock
Working less for the same pay increases productivity.
This is proven by a Solothurn IT company.
In an interview with 20 Minuten, Managing Director Fabian Schneider explains how this works.
Working from Monday to Friday is increasingly going out of fashion. Large corporations such as Unilever and Panasonic rely on the four-day week with full wages. The Solothurn-based IT company Seerow also tested the four-day week and is convinced of the model.
Concerns that the employees simply have to do the same amount of work in less time, as Economiesuisse chief economist Rudolf Minsch expressed to 20 minutes, were not fulfilled at Seerow. Managing Director Fabian Schneider (33) explains in an interview with 20 Minuten how it works.
How does it work out that employees work less but earn the same amount?
Cutter: Our customers not only pay for the hours worked, but above all for the products that we design and develop for them. This means that not the number of hours worked, but the know-how and passion that goes into our products are responsible for our success. We were able to increase productivity through the better work-life balance. Accordingly, we were able to do more on the other working days.
Which jobs are missing?
Basically none. However, we constantly question our work processes and our corporate culture and try to minimize idle times. We are better at distributing project responsibilities among different employees. This has a positive effect on the productivity, motivation and also the stress level of individual employees.
What has changed for the employees?
The atmosphere in the team was good beforehand. But I feel that all employees are convinced of this new working model and want to do their part to make it a success – that’s great and very motivating for everyone! It is important that the changes are accepted by employees with conviction.
They’re still looking for employees. Are you overwhelmed by applicants?
In the beginning, when we introduced the new working model, yes. We even received applications from Italy. These included many unsolicited applications from other disciplines that are less suitable for us as a smaller company. It’s settled down a bit now. But I think it’s great that people want to work for us.
What happens next after the four-day-week test?
The pilot project is still running for two and a half months, but we are currently confident that we can keep the four-day week forever.
At the Solothurn-based IT company Seerow, the four-day week has been in force for the nine employees since October. They now work 8.75 hours per day on four days, which is seven hours less per week than before. The wages are not changed – so there is the same amount of money for less working time. This should give employees more time to recover.
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