The Valencian tech and innovation ecosystem is leading the way in experimenting with a 4-day work week and could serve as a model for other industries. As the city of Valencia prepares to begin a month-long trial of this new work schedule, startups in Valencia can offer valuable insights and guidance based on their experiences.
As an example, HR Tech startup Growara was the first company in the sector to launch a specific service for companies looking to transition to a 4-day workweek. According to Julio Braceli, co-founder and CEO of the company, the process typically takes around 9 months to complete. Growara focuses on addressing 5 key impact areas within companies and eliminating non-value-adding workloads. “Initially, this model was geared towards tech-focused businesses, but we have realised that it can be applied to other professional industries that may, at first glance, appear more challenging”, he points out.
As for the pros and cons that this type of working day has for companies, Growara points to several benefits in the 4-day model such as a decrease in health problems (particularly mental health issues), an increase in productivity, a reduction in environmental impact, the promotion of equality among workers due to family care issues, and a greater attraction and retention of talent. “This is evident from some pilot experiences carried out in Iceland, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands, France, Japan, the United States, and also Spain”, Braceli emphasises. “Our main value proposition is to help companies not only adapt to the 4-day workweek but also create the necessary conditions to address future work challenges: managing different time zones in remote work, implementing hybrid models, building self-management teams, etc.”, he highlights.
Companies that have already implemented this new work schedule have also expressed positive feedback. BigBuy, for example, adopted this work schedule to provide its team with a better work-life balance. “We firmly believe that a team of happy individuals translates into increased productivity profits”, points out Salvador Esteve, CEO and co-founder of BigBuy.
Regarding the types of companies that can benefit from the 4-day workweek, BigBuy states that “while startups have a greater capacity for adaptation, any company equipped with tools to meet objectives and deadlines can implement it“.
José J. Burgos, founder and CEO of Fresh People, a Startup Valencia partner, believes that companies need greater flexibility beyond just adopting a 4-day workweek. “Our experience shows us that teams have other demands, such as longer holiday periods, the freedom to decide their schedules, the ability to work remotely, digital nomadism, and greater opportunities to balance their professional career with personal life“, he states.
Burgos believes that the debate on work schedules should extend beyond just the 4-day workweek to include flexible management and improving productivity levels “through better management of people, processes, and the adaptation of technology“. “Fresh People focuses on the impact of new work frameworks that lead to innovative management, allowing them to develop new mechanisms that align with the needs of the 21st century“, he mentions.
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