When I first decided to announce that Calc would close at midday on Fridays, I was nervous. It felt like a bold move away from the traditional accounting firm approach. We live in a time where clients expect us to be constantly available, and I worried about how this change would be seen. Would they think we were getting too relaxed or that we didn’t care about their needs?
The truth is, this decision wasn’t about entitlement—it was about living our values. At Calc, we believe our people are our greatest asset, and one of our core values is putting family first. By giving the team some flexibility on Fridays, we knew we could help them strike a better balance between work and personal life. Still, sending that email felt risky. Would clients see this as a positive step, or would they think we were cutting back on the service they’ve come to expect?
The response from clients has been heartwarming and, honestly, a relief. Here’s just some of what they had to say:
- “Love that approach mate—living your values! Great call, I hate being at work Friday afternoon.”
- “Looks good Jason—that was the opportunity I offered my staff 20 years ago, and it worked well. I got them to estimate what they thought they had achieved after setting their goals at the start of the break. It’s a good scheme, especially if they have a hand in setting their goals—well done.”
- “I have to say… great initiative, and I believe everyone should have that bit of time during the week for family or even just a bit of life admin or mental health.”
- “What an awesome plan, well done!”
It’s great to see so many of you not just understanding our decision but backing it all the way. We’ve gotten nothing but positive encouragement—clients cheering on the idea of letting our team have a bit more time for themselves, their families, or even those little life admin tasks that often get overlooked. One client even mentioned they’d love to have their financials sorted before our Friday knock-off, and you know what? That’s fair too—so we’re working to stay ahead while giving our team the balance they deserve.
For us, this is just the start. It’s about boosting service by having a happier, more energized team. And who knows? Maybe this move will encourage others to step back from the grind and think about how workplace flexibility can be a win-win for both staff and business.
Thanks for rolling with this change alongside us. As always, I’d love more of your feedback—and if you’ve brought work-life balance strategies into your own businesses, I’d love to hear about it!