Picture This
Trying out a new, delicious recipe. Snacking on Purdy’s chocolate hedgehogs while getting lost in an audio book. Applying henna and allowing your hands to be free to absorb the natural dye. Tackling an outdoor DIY project. Participating in an all-day gaming marathon. Working out and indulging in an at-home manicure. Exploring the hidden gems in your city. Spending quality time with loved ones. Snuggling your partner, your kids, your dog.
For most of us, a Friday morning looks nothing like this. But for the team at Rock & Bloom, where every second Friday is Recharge Day, this is our reality.
Rock & Bloom welcomes Recharge Day
Recharge Day, you ask? Never heard of it. Neither had I until our dynamite duo (aka the people who run the biz) introduced it as part of our company’s core values. It goes something like this…
Every second Friday our office is closed so that our team can rest, relax, and recharge. It’s an extra day a month to say sayonara to responsibility, and do something soul-filling that’s good for our mental health.
The purpose of implementing Recharge Days is to promote work-life balance and put our company values into practice. We know that we do better work when we are refueled & recharged.
The proof is in the pudding
With burnout rates at an all-time high, the concept of a recharge day feels refreshing and proactive. COVID-19 has changed the landscape in which businesses operate and it’s clear that employee well-being is becoming top priority for many organizations.
While support for recharge days, mental health time, or the four-day work week gains momentum, there is still opposition to overcome. Some believe that working less hours equals getting less work done and, in turn, bringing in less profit. However, the evidence says otherwise.
A Microsoft subsidiary in Japan trialed a 4-day workweek in 2019 and reported that productivity increased by nearly 40 per cent compared to the year prior. A New Zealand firm, Perpetual Guardian, found that employees’ time spent on non-work websites decreased by 35 per cent when working hours were cut by 20 per cent.
That’s not all. According to Forbes, from a financial perspective, research indicates that moving to a four-day workweek can reduce overhead and other costs to businesses. Employees not only take fewer sick days but are generally more productive.
What recharging looks like
Recharge Days offer our team time to spend alone, run errands, get caught up on housework, rest, have fun, or do something that sparks creativity. Our team has been loving the extra days off and making the most of it. Take a look at some of our Recharge Day highlights!
“Recharge day is an ability to slow down and push pause on life. I love that we have created an environment where we can all focus on what’s important to us. What fills our cup. A no guilt, no pressure day just for me."
Heather Adams
Co Founder & CEO