Fall City-based project delivery company Edison365 is shortening its workweek.
Edison365 has officially adopted a four-day, 32-hour workweek after testing it out for three months. According to Tad Haas, executive vice president at Edison365, the shortened workweek is a boost to work-life balance, and it gives the company an advantage in recruiting tech talent.
"As a company that's hiring, we've seen two things. One, we've seen an increase in applicants. We're getting more applications because of this because (applicants) also value work-life balance. Two, it's helped us compete in this crazy, high-salary marketplace," Haas said. "That helps us be more cost-competitive or financially competitive in the hiring market. That's made big difference."
Edison365 initially piloted a four-and-a-half-day workweek in 2020, making Fridays a half day, before the three-month, four-day workweek pilot. Employees will keep their same pay, and they can choose to use their extra day off on either Friday or Monday, or they can split it into two half-day chunks. Haas said employees and teams coordinate to make sure the company isn't too short-staffed any one day, and an open calendar system helps with communication.
In addition to the recruiting boost, Haas said the shortened workweek can help avoid burnout. Edison365 didn't see a drop in productivity during the pilot, according to Haas, and the company has tried to make meetings shorter and more efficient. As for making sure employees don't just end up working longer days when they aren't off, Haas said the company has fostered a culture that discourages getting carried away on any specific day.
Edison365 offers software to help companies take ideas from employees and develop them into reality. The company says its software also promotes collaboration between employees. Its clients include Cisco and Aster Group.
Edison365's headquarters are in Marlow, U.K., but its U.S. headquarters are in Fall City. The shortened workweek applies to employees in both offices. The company, which has a total of about 30 employees, including three based in Fall City, moved its U.S. headquarters from Bellevue to the census-designated place near Snoqualmie about a year ago, Haas said.
In addition to its shortened workweek, Edison365 has a flexible work model that allows employees to work both from an office and remotely.
"We're digital natives for the most part, and people are flexible and can do their work from wherever, whenever," Haas said.
