On August 15, 2022, the University will move to an innovative four-day workweek for staff and faculty. The goal is to support the personal wellness of employees in a manner that aligns with core missional values of self-restoration and renewal. After proposing this idea to the Board of Trustees, President Quinnan secured their unanimous approval. As he observed, “The pandemic forever altered traditional views on work as well as work-life balance. We all saw how alternative business models produced outcomes equal or superior to the status quo. We also realized that by simply working smarter instead of longer, we could raise employee satisfaction along with productivity.”

Administrative and instructional staff are excited about this experimental program. Emily Avery, Assistant Registrar, noted:

“Coming from a workplace in which the leadership had no interest in investing in the well-being of their employees, I am amazed at the consideration of the whole administrative team in this endeavor. I have deep gratitude for the leadership at Richmont as we pursue the four-day work week.”

Later this autumn, an evaluation of this pilot will occur to determine whether it is adopted permanently. To better understand Richmont’s commitment to student and employee health and wellness, click here to learn about its Thrive Wellness Initiative.