Celebrating #YourDay: Four years of the 4-day work week
Four years ago, WPBakery made a bold decision – we moved from a five-day to a four-day work week. Looking back, we have zero regrets and countless wins. What we affectionately call #YourDay has become a defining part of who we are and how we work.
A gift of time
Every WPBakery team member has received more than 200 extra paid days off since the change – that’s the equivalent of 10 years of paid vacation in many European countries.
That’s 1,600 additional hours to spend with loved ones, pursue hobbies, learn new skills, care for our health, or simply rest. In other words, we’ve all gained something truly priceless – time to live better.
A proven model of productivity and growth
The four-day work week isn’t a new idea – several countries and organizations have experimented with it. Yet few have fully embraced it. Many fear that reducing work hours will harm performance or results.
At WPBakery, we’ve proven the opposite. Over the past four years, we’ve maintained steady business growth and consistently achieved over 70% of our OKRs.
From a culture perspective, the numbers speak even louder. Our employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) stands at 85, compared to an industry average just above 30. In nearly every feedback round, #YourDay is mentioned as one of the key factors behind our team’s happiness and engagement.
What makes #YourDay special
#YourDay means something different for each of us. Many use it to spend more time with family, but it’s also become a driver of creativity, health, and personal growth.
Every team member agrees – #YourDay has helped them grow professionally. From taking online courses to experimenting with side projects, this extra time has directly contributed to improving our products and expanding our skills.
Our team members have published over 10 free WordPress plugins during their #YourDay initiatives, contributing back to the open-source community. Some even became sponsored contributors and volunteers supporting WordPress development.
Health-wise, 80% of the team has added physical or mental wellness activities to their #YourDay routines. Our CEO, Michael Makijenko, has long been one of the strongest advocates for healthy living – inspiring many of us to do the same.
Real stories, real inspiration
#YourDay is deeply personal – and that’s what makes it powerful. Here are just a few ways our colleagues make it their own:
- Çağdaş Dağ and his wife Perin spend their Fridays sailing and mastering navigation on their new boat.
- Orkun Aybek, a frontend engineer and tennis enthusiast, dedicates his Fridays to the court.
- Raitis Sevelis, our Head of Product, uses his Fridays to lecture at Riga Nordic University, sharing insights on eCommerce, digital marketing, and AI with the next generation of innovators.
- Ivana Ćirković, our social media voice, extends her passion beyond WPBakery – dedicating Fridays to promoting digital literacy and education.
- Our engineers, Nikita Hlopov and Oleg Apanovich, have together released six new WordPress plugins, all available for free to the community.
These are just a few examples of how #YourDay fuels purpose, balance, and creativity across our team.
Afterword
The four-day work week has transformed WPBakery. We are happier, more connected, and more motivated. We show up stronger because we have time to recharge, reflect, and live fully.
At WPBakery, we give our best today – because tomorrow is #YourDay.
