33 companies tried 4-day weeks. Your turn!

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January 17, 2023

Hello, Insiders. It’s my first year in a while not attending the World Economic Forum — where the elite are discussing the economy’s “gloomy” outlook — so I’m glued to the Davos dispatches from our business editor in chief, Matt Turner.

“I’ve always found it to be an incredible opportunity to try and get inside the minds of business leaders and policymakers from around the world,” Matt wrote on LinkedIn. “What they’re worried about, and the questions they are (and are not) asking themselves, often helps inform coverage for the year to come. And for those who do choose to arrive by private jet, they’re missing a trick. The train ride from Zurich to Davos Platz is beyond beautiful.”

Matt’s had a busy day meeting with CEOs — watch his takeaways in a new video post. And to keep up with his dispatches, just hit that follow button on his page. But first, the news.

— Nicholas Carlson

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The latest

Some Russians want to undo a shady ‘90s ship deal with China as its only aircraft carrier falls apart. Find out more.
“We'll handle that the way I handle things”: Trump speaks on the possibility of Ron DeSantis running against him in 2024. Read more here.
The CIA director secretly met with Zelenskyy before Russia’s invasion to reveal a plot to kill him, a forthcoming book says. Here’s the full story.

The big story

Arif Qazi/Insider

The results are in: It's time for your company to stop working on Fridays (or Mondays).

The latest, perhaps most convincing evidence yet for the shift to a four-day workweek comes from a six-month trial organized by 4 Day Week Global. Thirty-three companies with employees in six countries decreased their employees' workload to four days, or 32 hours, a week.

The results were unequivocal: The four-day workweek was better for everyone. Companies reported increased revenue and improved employee health and well-being, among other things.

One founder told us, “It probably sounds crazy, but it works."

So if you've ever tried to persuade your boss to shift to a four-day workweek, well, this is the best evidence yet to support your argument.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Top reads

Karwai Tang/Bruce Glikas/WireImage

A former "X Factor" contestant studied law — to sue Simon Cowell's company. Katie Waissel appeared on the show in 2010. She’s since retrained as a lawyer and, per a report, intends to sue Syco Entertainment for failing to provide a duty of care. Read more.
Tesla slashes prices as Musk feels the heat. The EV maker has cut prices on some of its top models by up to 20% in a bid to spur demand amid rising interest rates and increasing competition. Get the full story.
"I did the dumbest thing possible.” While many people dream of getting on the property ladder, one first-time buyer already regrets buying her three-bedroom house in Richmond, Virginia. “I haven't even moved in, and I cannot wait to sell this stupid house." Find out why.
“I manage a Davos hotel where Bill Gates and other leaders stay.” Hans-Rudolf Ruetti manages the Grandhotel Belvédère, where the most important World Economic Forum participants stay. He said staff barely sleep and live off Red Bull and chocolate — but it’s worth it. Here’s why.
Five tips to build lucrative side hustles that only take a couple of hours a week. Sade Kelly started her own time-management-coaching business alongside her job as an advertising executive. She told Insider how to balance a side gig with your nine-to-five. Find out more.
It takes a village to raise children. But many millennial parents don’t have that support and are drowning in high childcare costs. Some have taken to TikTok to voice their struggles, saying the village doesn’t exist and leaving stark warnings that help isn’t coming. More here.
“Your husband is a polar bear.” Yes, you read that correctly. And no, it doesn’t make sense. But that’s an example of the nonsense that Alaska Natives were met with when trying to access emergency aid that was translated into their language. Here’s the full story.

Take a look

Reuters

See inside the incredible “underground city” carved from salt. Soledar, a small salt-mining town in Donetsk, has recently taken center stage in the Russia-Ukraine war. Its colossal salt mines have previously hosted classical concerts and soccer games — take a look inside.

Watch this

The true cost of superfoods. The world can’t get enough of so-called superfoods like avocado, açaí, and durian. But they may not be as wholesome as you think.

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This edition was curated by Nicholas Carlson, and edited by Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan, and Nathan Rennolds. Get in touch: insidertoday@insider.com.

33 companies tried 4-day weeks. Your turn!

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