A Different Approach to the Work Week
In recent years
we’ve heard a lot of discussion about work-life balance
It made us ask a simple question: Could a manufacturing company create more flexibility for our employees while continuing to meet our customers’ expectations?
About a year ago, we began looking for ways to do just that, while maintaining one simple goal — create more flexibility for our team while continuing to deliver the quality and service our customers expect.
After exploring several options, we launched what was initially planned as a three-month experiment: a 37-hour work week. The schedule provides some flexibility Monday through Thursday and wraps up with a shortened Friday, allowing employees to start their weekends by 1:00 PM.
Understandably, one of the first questions was whether a shorter work week would also mean a smaller paycheck. From the beginning, ownership was committed to making sure our employees could benefit from the added flexibility without sacrificing their previous earnings. To make that possible, we built in an incentive tied to reasonable and attainable weekly goals, allowing employees who meet those goals to earn the same pay they did before the change.
As we approach the one-year mark, the results have exceeded our expectations
Productivity has increased, efficiency has improved, and employee morale is strong.
The program was built on a simple principle: greater flexibility comes with a shared commitment to making the most of our time at work, minimizing unnecessary downtime, and staying focused on the goals of the team.
One year later, our employees have embraced that commitment, and the results speak for themselves. What started as a three-month experiment has become part of the culture we’re proud to build at Etchit. For us, the experience has shown that flexibility and accountability can go hand in hand — and when both the company and its employees are willing to make that commitment, everyone can benefit.