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Eidos Montreal are switching to a four-day workweekFor a big studio, it’s a huge step to improve working conditions
For a big studio, it’s a huge step to improve working conditions
The studio behind theDeus Exprequels, Guardians Of The Galaxy, and Shadow Of The Tomb Raider are taking a bold step in an industry known for overworking, and switching to a four-day workweek. Eidos Montreal say salaries and working conditions will remain the same, they’ll just close the office on Fridays as everyone goes from 40-hour weeks to 32-hour weeks. The idea is that with more downtime to unwind and live their lives, people will work better during those reduced hours. Alright, everyone else do this too, thanks.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy - Lead the Guardians: ExplorationWatch on YouTube
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy - Lead the Guardians: Exploration
The four-day week is an increasingly popular concept, though we haven’t seen it implemented much. The thinking is that when employees have more time to themselves, they’re grinding their minds and bodies and lives to shreds less, so they’ll be more productive during the hours that they do work. Trials in Iceland weredeclared an “overwhelming success”, with productivity improving or at least remaining the same in most workplaces. And, y’know, employees were glad to grind their minds and bodies and lives to shreds less.
“The idea is not to condense the working hours into 4 days, but rather to review our ways of doing things and our quality time invested, with the aim of working better! Above all, we want to increase the productivity and well-being of our employees,” Eidos Montreal studio head David Anfossi said inthe announcement.
We can’t all live off ancestral wealth and plunder.
“Concretely, we want to reduce the time at work, but increase the quality of this time invested, whether it’s on a team-basis or for the studio as a whole. A promising right balance for everything!
A three-day weekend AND shorter meetings? What a life!
Mutazione knows what I’d do with my third weekend day.
Several indie studios already run on a four-day workweek, includingMutazione devs Die Gute FabrikandBugsnax gang Young Horses. A big-budget studio like Eidos Montreal doing this is another matter. I hope this inspires others to at least consider it, especially in an industry which often treats people as disposable.
The Scottish government areplanning a trial of the four-day weekand I’d like to point out hi, I live in Scotland, hello, pick me. A group ofIrish businessesare planning a pilot scheme in 2022 too. The Belgian government are alsoconsidering a four-day workweek, though their plan would be to scrunch the same 40 hours into only four days. Many other businesses and governments are having discussions about four-day weeks, but many seem to be waiting for clear proof of large-scale success before going against convention.
