Kickstarter`s Four-Day Workweek: Transforming Productivity and Well-being
| Case Code: HROB285 Case Length: 5 Pages Period: 2022-2025 Pub Date: 2025 Teaching Note: Available |
Price: Rs.200 Organization: Kickstarter Industry: Technology & Communications Countries: United States Themes: Future of Work, Leadership and Change Management, Work from HomeOrganizational Design |
Abstract Case Intro 1 Case Intro 2 Excerpts
Abstract
The case study “Kickstarter's Four-Day Workweek: Transforming Productivity and Well-being” analyzes Kickstarter's successful 2022 transition to a four-day, 32-hour workweek under the “100-80-100” model, examining its impact on productivity and employee well-being. Driven by post-pandemic work norm shifts and spearheaded by Chief Strategy Officer Jon Leland with Aziz Hasan, then CEO of Kickstarter, the initiative aimed to enhance work-life balance and boost output.
Kickstarter navigated implementation challenges through a structured six month pilot, emphasizing outcome-driven workflows, streamlined communication, and team-specific adjustments. Central to the success were transparent communication, active employee involvement, and a leadership commitment balancing vision with practical execution. The results were significant: employee retention nearly doubled, engagement surged by 50 percent, and goal achievement increased substantially. While challenges like global team coordination and holiday scheduling arose, they were addressed through iterative feedback and flexibility. This experiment not only sustained productivity with reduced hours but also strengthened Kickstarter's employer brand. The success of the pilot led to the company formally rolling out the four-day week across the organization in October 2022.
The case underscores the critical role leadership plays in driving organizational change by empowering teams, prioritizing well-being, and aligning operational restructuring with cultural values, offering a compelling blueprint for organizations exploring innovative work paradigms.
Issues
The case is structured to achieve the following teaching objectives:
- Examine employee-centric HR policies for enhancing work-life balance.
- Assess the critical role of leadership in driving and sustaining organizational transformation.
- Identify challenges and solutions in adopting a four-day workweek.
Contents
Keywords
Leadership and Change Management; Employee Benefits; Workplace Flexibility; Work-Life Balance; Organizational Performance; HR Policies; Future of Work; Strategic Leadership; Change Management
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