‘The results exceeded our expectations’: Claxon introduces four-day work week
Following a successful trial period, independent growth agency Claxon has implemented a permanent four-day work week, effective immediately.
The three month trial was conducted late last year, and saw the agency condense its standard 38-hour, five-day work week into four days with slightly longer hours.
Allowing the entire team Fridays off, unlike other four-day work weeks, Claxon has not reduced employee hours or salaries, to ensure resourcing availability stays the same.
The team will still be available on Fridays for clients in cases of high importance.
“This isn’t just about improving culture; it’s about enhancing productivity and performance,” said Daniel Willis, Claxon’s founder and CEO.
“Claxon has a culture of a high-performance team, and one that runs at incredible pace with precision, and I wanted to see firsthand how an additional day of rest each week would enable our team to continue to perform long term at peak levels.
“The results exceeded our expectations, and I’m thrilled to report that not only did we maintain our high standards, the entire team flourished, and clients are also experiencing new and invigorated teams.”
Willis said he read the studies, spoke with people for and against a four-day work week, and notified all clients ahead of the trial in late 2024. He said not only were there no client issues, but many commented to team members during the trial that everyone “seemed to be happier and more dialled in”.
Before making the four-day work week permanent, he also surveyed all staff to ask for their feedback on their experiences, and said he was “blown away” by the positive impact it had on employees’ professional and personal lives.
“There seems to be a belief in agency-world that 4-day weeks don’t work – clients won’t be accepting, and that it just doesn’t ‘fit’. Well, I can confidently say that’s incorrect. If a highly collaborative, integrated and high-performance team like Claxon can do it, any agency can make it work,” Willis continued.
“I know that there have been a couple of other brave founders who run on a 9-day fortnight, but the reality is team members ultimately end up with much more work to do when they return as the work has continued in their absence. Having a whole of agency 4 day week eliminates this and truly allows team members to switch off.”
The goal of the initiative was increased productivity, but it has also proven to be a significant drawcard for talent. Since the trial began, the agency has advertising four new roles, with 50% of cover letters referencing the four-day work week as a key attraction.
In addition to the new work week structure, Claxon continues to embrace a hybrid model, allowing employees to work two days in the office, and two days remotely.
Jade Axford, chief growth officer at the agency, said: “You sometimes hear of these mythical 4-day weeks, in companies far-far-away, but getting to experience what I have over the last few months makes me wonder why more companies aren’t brave enough to try. My productivity is through the roof and as are my happiness levels – it is an amazing feeling not to run out of energy during the week.”
Willis concluded: “A company is only as good as its people – and if you have happy, refreshed, engaged team members – then half the battle of building a successful company has already been won.”
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Lauren McNamara is the associate editor at Mumbrella, covering the agency beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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