Enthusiastic – the dodio team looking forward to a four-day working week .
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURES : DAVID WOOD
PUTTING PEOPLE
FIRST
Work-life balance is the key to firm ’ s four-day working week plan
F ancy a four-day working week ? Forward-thinking Sunderland marketing agency dodio is about to give its staff a pizza the action .
Covid has seen many businesses reevaluate how they operate , with a better work-life balance now high on many agendas .
And dodio – which for more than 10 successful years has spread the word about some of our region ’ s best businesses – is about to make news of its own by bringing in a four-day working week .
Enthused by trials carried out elsewhere , dodio , led by founder and director Chris Kean and wife Senga , believe it could boost , rather than hamper , productivity .
But crucially for Chris and Senga , it should give their valued staff more flexibility – and the little matter of an extra 52 days holiday a year !
And both believe it ’ s the way forward for dodio – and many other businesses .
Director Senga told Wear Business : “ While we ’ ve always had a hybrid working model , that ’ s changed since Covid to be more of a flexible working approach in all aspects – with more time being spent working from home , for example , and hours which suit an individual ’ s commitments like the school run etc . And having looked closely at the fourday week model , all the research makes us want to give it a go .”
Introduced by dodio on August 1 for an
26 initial three months , the new arrangements have been welcomed by the team : Chris and Senga , head of design Jameson Lai , graphic designer Heather Armstrong and marketing apprentice Aimee Lambert , with another recruit to be taken on shortly .
And , says Chris , it should not only appeal to , and help retain , current team members but , as the business grows , it will appeal to future recruits .
He said : “ The incentive of having that extra day off will keep people focused and motivated to concentrate on the work that needs to be done during those four days – it ’ s not a perk anyone is going to want to lose . And that three-day break is an opportunity to spend quality time with the family without rushing it , get a bit of ‘ R and R ’ before coming back in on a Monday or Tuesday , 100 per cent ready to go again .
“ We believe people will get accomplished in those four days what was probably being accomplished in five , if not a little bit better than that , especially as many processes are much quicker nowadays .”
The new arrangements , Chris and Senga believe , will dovetail perfectly with dodio ’ s key brand values : innovation , excellence , integrity , imagination and being personable . But how will they know if it ’ s working ? Senga explained : “ We can measure productivity against benchmarks like how long it would take to develop branding concepts to what it usually takes , or to create a month ’ s work of social media content .
Pizza time – a happy working environment is important at dodio .
And while it ’ s not 100 per cent scientifically accurate , because we ’ ve done the work over the years , we can gauge it that way .”
Chris agrees , saying : “ We know how long it takes to turn a project around on a five-day model . But we expect projects to be delivered faster and more efficiently as people are more switched on , ready to be creative and more relaxed .”
Colleagues are certainly enthused . Jameson Lai said : “ It should ease some of life ’ s pressures and hopefully help with focus and productivity going forward .” While graphic designer Heather said : “ I believe it will greatly improve my work-life balance , and overall mental health . It will also boost my productivity during the day ." And that , says Chris , is what it ’ s all about . He said : “ I ’ m not sure that the 20thcentury concept of a five-day working week is the best fit for 21st-century people or business . And let ’ s not forget the benefit to the climate .
“ I wouldn ’ t be surprised if in 10 or 20 years ’ time , we ’ re looking back saying ‘ remember when people used to work five days a week ?’ We believe it will be the best thing for our business and , most importantly , our team .”
For more about dodio , visit dodio . co . uk