This company shifted to a four-day workweek–and it’s going great

December 7, 2018 Good morning! The 40-hour week, a concept so ingrained in our business culture, isn’t actually that old. It was made federal law in 1937, after decades of strikes and labor actions demanding less time at work. Now, the idea of the 40-hour week seems almost quaint. Most people in office jobs work more than 40 hours, and have emails and Slacks pinging at all hours of the night and on weekends (to say nothing of the people who have to work more than one job, because one job isn’t enough to live on). But what are you actually doing in that time behind the desk? For a lot of people, a lot of the time, it’s not actually work. Because you’re required to be at the office so often, you’re also paying bills, or planning your wedding, or just watching YouTube videos. So what if, instead, you put your head down and did focused work for just four days, and then got an extra day to yourself? [Software company Wildbit is the latest to experiment with this kind four-day workweek](. While it sounds revolutionary, it turns out it’s actually pretty simple—and makes workers happier without affecting the business. Just remember, the idea of “weekends” once seemed revolutionary, too. —[Morgan Clendaniel]( [This company shifted to a four-day workweek–and it’s going great]( [This company shifted to a four-day workweek–and it’s going great]( Software company Wildbit decided it was good business to work smarter, not harder. [“We see ourselves as the Blumhouse of romance”: How Frolic tapped into a billion-dollar industry]( [“We see ourselves as the Blumhouse of romance”: How Frolic tapped into a billion-dollar industry]( The billion-dollar romance industry is driven by an 85% female, extremely engaged audience. Sarah Penna and Lisa Berger launched a media company to cater to them. [How to reframe your thinking about the worst parts of the holidays]( [How to reframe your thinking about the worst parts of the holidays]( For many, this time of year can be stressful and busy. Here’s how to reframe your thinking and enjoy the holiday season. [Squarespace’s sleek redesign rejects cliché Silicon Valley branding]( [Squarespace’s sleek redesign rejects cliché Silicon Valley branding]( The company is ditching quiet friendliness for a very New York swagger. [The collateral damage of Tumblr’s porn ban]( [The collateral damage of Tumblr’s porn ban]( Tumblr’s new NSFW content policy will hurt those with diverse gender and sexual identities who use the site to learn about themselves and find each other. [Catherine Zeta-Jones knows how to make you love to hate her]( [Catherine Zeta-Jones knows how to make you love to hate her]( Jones is at peak villainy on her Facebook Watch show, “Queen America.” But, as always with her best characters, it’s deeper than just being a “b-i-t-c-h.” [Help paying off your student loans is a great perk–if you can get it]( [Help paying off your student loans is a great perk–if you can get it]( As Americans grapple with $1.7 trillion in debt, many employers are offering help in the form of financial counseling and refinancing programs. [Want to find fulfillment? Stop trying so hard to find it]( [Want to find fulfillment? Stop trying so hard to find it]( You won’t find a magic bullet when it comes to being happy. Share This Newsletter Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe [here!]( Like this email? Consider signing up for our other newsletters [here](. Too many emails? Update your subscription preferences [here](. No longer want to receive this newsletter? Unsubscribe [here](. Mansueto Ventures, 7 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007-2195