Staff at a Brisbane CBD firm have been happier, more connected and more productive over the past few months – while working fewer hours.
Brisbane Criminal Lawyers implemented a four-day working week in March, and Principal Bruce Peters, who instigated the change, said he was “totally pleased with the outcome”.
Bruce said staff members, Senior Associate Leo Strachan and solicitor Jade Bradley, had embraced the new model and the results had been “quite incredible”.
“From a business owner point of view, it was scary because we all have grown up with five days a week and this idea that you can do the same job in four days a week was something I was going to risk because I’ve heard a lot about it, and I heard how people get their inspiration and they come back more satisfied with the work,” he said.
“I thought ‘let’s give it a go and see what happens’ because the worst thing that can happen is that our revenue will go down and we’ll cancel the whole thing and just go back to five days.
“The litmus test was whether or not it took four days working to start to lose revenue, and that hasn’t been the case at all.”
Leo said the prospect of a “work-life balance day” was an incentive for he and Jade to arrange their calendar efficiently.
“It’s with the understanding that if we have court, we go to court, and if we have a client meeting, we do the client meeting, so it’s not a ‘day off’ day off, but if we’re smart, and we manage our calendar, then it’s a day off,” he said.
Leo said the free day – taken on either a Friday or a Monday to create a three-day weekend – allowed him to conduct his family dispute resolution business, make appointments, or simply relax.
“It’s the day for the doctor’s appointment, it’s a day to get the car fixed, it’s a day to get the house repaired, so (it’s for) all those things that would either cost a premium because you have to do them on a weekend, or you can’t do on the weekend,” he said.
“It works because we’re still on the phone, so if something happens with a client, Bruce can get on the phone and contact us because we need to be responsive to the client, so it’s kind of like the best of both worlds.”
He said to accommodate each other’s work-life balance day, the colleagues would sometimes swap tasks such as court mentions, which fortunately the calendar-driven field of criminal law allowed.
Jade, who has worked at the firm for two and half years, said she and Leo, who has worked at the firm for three years, were definitely happier and now worked better as a team.
“As soon as you walk in here, you switch on and you want to get it done,” she said.
“I’ve noticed the days go so much faster. Yesterday I looked at my clock and it was quarter to 12, and I thought it was only 9.30. You’re so busy, but it’s an enjoyable busy because you’re enthusiastic.”
Brisbane Criminal Lawyers staff
Bruce, who established the firm in 2012, said for the four-day working week to be successful, ground rules needed to be established and staff needed to be driven.
“You have to have people who really enjoy working. You give them the time off and they come back more refreshed,” he said.
“I mean three days a week, every week, you have to yourself – it makes a difference.”
Bruce said the move was also a way for him to retain Leo and Jade – “these guys are great, they are great at what they do”.
“In analysing it, I think it really comes down to the quality of the people you’re working with,” he said.
“It’s been a good experiment and it’s basically enshrined here now.”
The Right to Disconnect comes into effect on 26 August 2024 for non-small business employers, and on 26 August 2025 for small business employers.
The Queensland Law Society’s Family and Criminal Law Conference will be held on 11 October in Brisbane. Tickets here.
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