Bolt Becomes First Tech Unicorn To Adopt Short Work Weeks

Fintech startup Bolt has become the first tech unicorn to adopt a four-day work week.

The company is aiming to build a “conscious” business culture by prioritizing the health and wellbeing of its 300 employees.

Over the next three months, the company will experiment by giving workers every Friday off. However, customer-facing teams may have to work this day to ensure that there is always coverage, but will still operate four days a week.

Bolt started the new schedule last week and if successful, will adopt it permanently. Along with a shorter week, the startup will adjust their calendars in order to shorten days as well.

“If we tried to squeeze in everything we were doing in five days into four days, whether it’s the same number of meetings, the same collaborations, etcetera, I don’t think that will lend itself well to success,” said Nisha Victor, vice president of product at Bolt. “I think the key is to be intentional about how we make the most out of the four days, prioritize the things that we really need to collaborate with other folks on, and start eliminating the meetings where we’re optional attendees.”