Why we’re introducing a 9-day fortnight

March 10, 2022 Written by Grace French

The 9-day fortnight: A new way of working, to benefit colleagues and clients

It’s not exactly breaking news that in the last two years, the world of work has changed beyond recognition. With curveball after curveball thrown our way, organisations and colleagues have had to navigate an ever-evolving landscape whilst keeping all plates spinning and bearing the emotional brunt of changing guidance.

But – always keen to find a silver lining – the pandemic has proven that we can work more flexibly and still achieve amazing outcomes.

When Henry Ford introduced the Monday to Friday, 40-hour week in the 1920s, it quickly became the norm. Pre-pandemic, it felt near impossible to challenge this engrained way of working, despite it being 100 years old. But when you examine the countless seismic shifts we’ve seen in society over the last century, further fuelled by the pandemic, it suddenly feels archaic to revert to how things were without interrogating how we can evolve.

At Stand, we have always believed that we work to live, not live to work, and that balance and a positive culture enables us to deliver our best work. While we’ve had a successful couple of years, the monotony of working from home in lockdown has been draining. We’re firm believers in seeing our colleagues as people, not just employees, and we’ve spent time understanding what helps them to feel fulfilled at work and beyond.

So, rather than going back, we’re evolving.

Introducing…the 9-day fortnight.

Every two weeks, everyone at Stand will have a day off to spend how they wish. Whether that’s doing something creative, exploring somewhere new, having a duvet day, or finally dealing with that pile of laundry – whatever will help them to free up headspace, rest and reflect.

Our salaries stay at 100% and our hours are reduced to 90%. By giving our team additional time away from their desks, we believe we’ll unlock newfound energy and focus, ensuring that we can continue to do our best strategic and creative work for our clients.

Before we introduced the 9-day fortnight, 100% of colleagues were proud to work at Stand. Never complacent, we want to build on this foundation of trust and pride. We’re incredibly excited about this move and believe it will make us an even stronger, more effective organisation.

Watch this space for updates on how our team is making the most of our 9-day fortnight!

If you’re feeling the strain and looking for a better work-life balance, we’re currently recruiting at all levels – we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch: recruitment@standagency.com