Local digital agency advocates for 4 day work week after experiencing positive impact internally

The bold Initiative is a Call to Action for the Industry to Break Away from Crunch Culture, says the Agency

Local digital and branding agency, 4 Thirteen, announced that it will be implementing a four day work week for its company in an effort to achieve better work-life balance among employees.

Established in 2008, 4 Thirteen services a wide variety of clients from different industries, from telecommunications, insurance, banking and FMCG. According to a statement released by the agency, they believe in a people first approach, priding themselves in truly understanding the needs of a client from a business perspective and delivering compelling and engaging campaigns to their audience.

“The decision to move to a four-day work week was not easy but we knew it was the right cal (and) while it took a bit of getting used too, we now reap the rewards and can definitively say the four-day work week, works!,” said Co-Founder and CEO, 4 Thirteen, Danny Gnaniah. “I’ve seen first hand the positive impact it has had on the team – significantly increasing morale, momentum and overall efficiency.

*^{Co-Founder and CEO, 4 Thirteen, Danny Gnaniah}*

Danny also explained that the decision to implement a four day work week was influenced the company’s determination to take a “bold stance against the crunch culture that has unfortunately become so embedded within our industry and many others as well.”

The decision to have every Friday off was part of a lengthy effort within the company to live up to its core values in terms of people and culture and after the team prioritised internal trepidation and concerns over client acceptance, the landmark decision was push through.

According to a statement by the agency, the policy has already proven to be a rousing success with staff reporting overall higher spirits and displaying a more eager attitude towards work – thanks to an additional day to rest and reflect on the preceding week.

4 Thirteen has also utilised this opportunity to invest in talent development and team building. On every first Friday of the month, the agency organises professional development teams and counsellors to aid the team in creating and running programmes for us.

Sharing on the additional day off every week, Jan Lee, Lead Strategist at 4 Thirteen said, “In the fast-paced world we live in today – especially in a branding agency, its truly a godsend that we can get just a little more time for ourselves. 52 Fridays off means we get 52 more days to spend with our family and friends or to rest and relax. That is invaluable time. It helps us recharge and take the next week on with a renewed spirit and momentum. A lot of my friends in other agencies or industries are always jealous when they find out about our Friday’s off.”

Established in 2008, 4 Thirteen now boasts a team of over 30 staff and serve a vast array of clients from a variety of industries including telecommunications, insurance, banking and fast-moving consumer goods. Some of the agency’s core clients include Yoodo, Allianz, OSK Property, CIMB, Hada Labo, Scismic and Panasonic.