The Project: The four-day working week has taken Australian businesses by storm, with more workplaces adopting the new schedule. Culture strategist Sheena Boughen explains how businesses are able to maintain productivity although people are working one day less.
Championing a New Way to Work: The Four-Day Week at Our Community
In 2022, Sheena Boughen was part of the leadership group at Our Community as the organisation evolved to a four-day work week. The program - supported by international researchers and delivered in partnership with 4 Day Week Global - aimed to explore whether organisations could maintain productivity while reducing work hours and prioritising staff wellbeing.
The results were remarkable: Our Community saw reduced sick leave and staff turnover, stronger team morale, and sustained business performance. The model was made permanent even before the six-month trial concluded.
Sheena played a strategic role in supporting this transition, helping to shape the organisation’s approach to culture change and people-first leadership. Her contribution reflects a long-standing commitment to reimagining the way organisations operate - with flexibility, trust, and creativity at the centre.
The trial has since served as a blueprint for dozens of other organisations across Australia, influencing broader conversations about workplace innovation and sustainability.
Sheena continues to advocate for thoughtful, values-based innovation in leadership, workplace culture, and social impact.