What if businesses add a second team that works in the office Friday-Monday?
The traditional Monday-Friday workweek is no longer the norm. More and more jobs are being advertised as fully-remote, hybrid, or in-person, and offices are at their highest occupancy on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. There has been a fundamental shift away from working in the office on Mondays and Fridays.
Instead of fighting this new normal, businesses should embrace it. One way to do this is to create two teams:
Team A would work Monday-Friday, with Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the office.
Team B would work Friday-Monday, with Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays in the office.
Rethinking the work week would have several advantages:
Doubled utilization of office space. Currently, offices are typically empty on weekends. By splitting teams into two, businesses could use their office space more effectively.
Reduced cost per person. Businesses could save money against headcount as fixed-costs of rent, equipment would be shared between more people.
Increased output. With more people working in the office on weekends, employees could get more work done. This is because there would be less distractions and interruptions on the weekends.
Reduced disturbances. There would be less email traffic and meetings on the weekends, meaning that employees could focus on their work.
More flexibility for employees. Employees would have more flexibility in their schedules, which could help them to better balance their work and personal lives.
Splitting teams into two would be a win-win for businesses and employees. It would save businesses money, increase output, and give employees more flexibility.
The traditional Monday-Friday workweek is no longer the norm. Businesses should embrace this new normal and find ways to make it work better. Splitting teams into two is one way to do this. It would save businesses money, increase output, and give employees more flexibility.
To create a future-ready organization, businesses need to accept that work patterns have changed. Rather than fighting against it, use it as an opportunity to redesign the way that work is done, and the office environment in which work occurs.