our 30-Hour Workweek:

Fewer Hours, Same Pay + Benefits.

Bairn’s 30-hour workweek allows team members to work 25% less hours per week than traditional full-time workers, while retaining 100% salary and benefits. This program incorporates flexibility, allowing our team to choose hours that best suit them or work core hours from 9am - 4pm ET. We believe a 30-hour workweek offers an effective alternative to the traditional 40-hour schedule while maintaining productivity & increasing reports of workplace happiness.

International Studies & Research: Working Longer ≠ More Work Done

Stanford: An emerging body of evidence states that after working longer hours is associated with a loss of effectiveness. John Pencavel of Stanford University claims our output falls per hour dramatically after working 50 hours a week and even more so after 55 hours per week. Learn more here.

Swedish Government: For roughly a year, the Swedish government funded a study researching if a shorter workday could increase productivity. They studied nurses at the Svartedalens Retirement Home, who worked 6-hour days on an 8-hour salary. The study found that 68 nurses who worked six-hour days took half as much sick time as those in the control group. They were 2.8 times less likely to take any time off in a two-week period, 20% happier, alongside more energy at work and in their spare time. The nurses increased engagement activities with the elder residents by 64%. Learn more here.

Other Notable Research: Lancet Study, Melbourne Institute, WeWork, Washington Post.

Benefits associated with a 30-hour workweek:

  1. Enhanced Focus: Employees can often experience diminished productivity as their work hours increase. A 30 hour schedule can optimize cognitive function, which typically deteriorates when working longer hours. Concentrating on work for five to six hours at the start of the day is common for many professionals, beyond which focus tends to plateau or decline.

  2. Increased Personal Time & Creativity: A 30-hour work schedule can allow employees more time away from work to spend with family, engage in hobbies, or simply relax. This time away from the office environment helps clear the mind and fosters creative breakthroughs. Stepping away from a problem can unlock new ideas, making a reduced workweek conducive to enhancing creativity.

  3. Reduced Burnout: Work-life balance plays a pivotal role in preventing burnout, a prominent issue in today’s film industry. The 30-hour workweek can mitigate the risk of disengagement and burnout by allowing our team more time to enjoy life and recuperate from their any job-related responsibilities.

  4. Lowered Risk of Injury: Prolonged work hours can increase risk of physical and mental fatigue, leading to a higher likelihood of workplace accidents, especially for on location tasks involving strenuous physical effort or the operation of production equipment.

conclusion

The 30-hour workweek presents various advantages that benefit everyone on the Bairn team. The 40-hour workweek has traditionally been the norm, however changes in technology and employee mindsets are rendering it less relevant in today's workplace. While it may not be suitable for every organization or role, we believe the 30-hour workweek leads to a more balanced and productive work environment for us.