Beginning October 1, 2024, Pinnacle Prevention is transitioning to a 32-Hour/4-Day work week while maintaining full employee pay. We will be in a pilot period phase of this transition from October 1 through December 31, 2024; however, we fully expect that this will remain our permanent work week schedule while holding flexibility to work around unique needs for each member of the team.
Why are we making this change? This is not a decision we came to lightly. Plans for this have been years in the making. We have been analyzing, watching, and observing to find the best path to make this feel possible for us. The short answer is we want to create internal systems that support the well-being and resilience of our staff. Research shows that a 32-hour/4-day work week results in improved overall wellbeing, improved mental health, and improved morale. The long answer to the why, is that this decision aligns with our values and position on justice. At Pinnacle Prevention we are in the work of policy and systems change and this means re-examining our societal norms, especially norms around labor and burnout. We know we are better able to support others when our team feels like we have time for rest, family, and nurturing our hobbies and passions. We aren’t alone in this change, either. Many countries, governments, and states in the U.S. have taken policy action towards shorter work weeks. Adjusting work schedules also benefits the earth. The drop in commuting and work-related travel is leading to a reduction in harmful emissions, improved air quality, and reduced energy consumption. What changes can you expect when working with us? So, what will this look like for Pinnacle Prevention operations? Effective October 1, 2024, our new business hours of operation will be Monday – Thursday from 8AM-5PM. Our office will be closed Friday-Sunday. There’s no one-size-fits-all and team member flexibility, choice, and autonomy in scheduling is important to us. Some team members will be working 8-hour days Monday-Thursday. Other team members have opted to work 6.5-hour days Monday-Friday with Friday being a ‘meeting-free/focused project time’ day. Will we be available when you need us? We remain committed to our relationships with you, our partners and community. We are intentionally piloting a flexible schedule. Many of our partners and friends work weekends, especially those operating farmers markets. You will still see us at the markets occasionally on weekends for visits or technical assistance support or for events, and then team members will flex that time later in the week. We know we’ll need to be flexible in our planning. We are holding the tension between the appreciation for more time, and the balance of what currently feels like already stretched bandwidth across our small team. We know we can’t just drop a day and then carry on with business as usual. During the pilot period we will be trying and testing new work habits and processes to adjust to workload and time management. This will include examining our culture and habits around email and meeting scheduling, for example. A Thought About Supporting Resilience We’ve had a chance to speak with a lot of folks who work in various roles in the larger system. From folks who grow the food that feeds us, those working to get food to those who need it, and those who work in various programs to improve the systems and environments that support us all. We’ve also talked to the folks most impacted by the system, our fellow Arizonans and neighbors who care about their families and communities and just want dignity and peace for all. One thing we know is true from listening to their stories, is this work is often slow and heartbreaking. Systems change doesn’t always move at the speed in which people deserve and it is often riddled with setbacks. There are wins, and moments of joy and connection, too. But we hear it’s often hard to celebrate those moments when we know “we’re not there yet.” Many communities and families in Arizona already know the value of rest, joy, and celebration in survival. Polyvagal theory teaches us that nervous systems need connection, rest, and joy. Our nervous systems talk to one another and seek this co-regulation. We see the 32-hour work policy as a trauma-informed way to support our collective resilience and co-regulation. To work in systems change means to be in it for the long-haul. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be inviting more conversation around the role of rest, joy, and connection in the work. We hope that you’ll share your thoughts and wishes and that together, we can prioritize these needs in the systems change we are working to achieve. Why are we talking about this publicly? We are also choosing to publicize these plans, as we believe flexible work policies should be normalized. We want this not just for ourselves, but for all of you too. We are calling for our friends, partners, businesses, and government agencies to join us in transforming our work culture and norms because our collective wellbeing is intimately connected. We invite you to be in conversation with us about this. Share your immediate thoughts and reactions to this with us – both the glimmers of possibility and the tensions. If you’re interested in exploring tools for making this feel possible at your organization or reading the research behind it visit our friends at https://workfour.org/. With love – The Pinnacle Prevention Team
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