A CEO tried a 4-day week—but stopped after employees were secretly working on Fridays

This story highlights a growing tension in workplace policy: even well-intentioned flexibility experiments like a four-day workweek can backfire if not paired with trust and clear expectations. It's a cautionary tale for companies navigating hybrid and remote work debates, showing that employee behavior doesn't always follow leadership's intentions.

• Safeguard Global piloted a four-day workweek in 2023 to boost recruitment and retention.
• The company discovered employees were secretly working on their supposed day off, undermining the pilot's purpose.
• The case illustrates the broader complexity and unresolved nature of the return-to-office and flexible work debate.