In this episode, host Kimberly Rhodes chats with 37signals' cofounders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson about the company's Summer Fridays policy, which grants employees a four-day workweek from May to September. While the perk encourages work-life balance and a feeling of seasonality, there are drawbacks to consider, like reduced productivity.

Key Takeaways:

00:46 - 37signals' Summer Friday policy and why it was initially introduced

03:09 - The trade-offs the company makes with summer hours

10:12 - The challenge with summer hours in the pursuit of more ambitious goals

13:09 - How the company balances coverage for always-on teams, like customer support

16:17 - The effect on team projects that require collaboration


Links and Resources:

Samsung shifts to emergency mode with 6-day work week for executives

The Hawthorne Effect

Books by 37signals

Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com

HEY World | HEY

The REWORK podcast

The Rework Podcast on YouTube

The 37signals Dev Blog

37signals on YouTube

@37signals on X