It has been three years since we moved Angus Car Service to a four-day work week, so we thought it was probably time for a proper review! We want to share the good, the bad and the slightly inconvenient…
We still work a full 38-hour week. We just do it across four longer days, giving our team a three-day weekend every week.
And after almost three years, we’ve learned a few things.
Why Did We Move to a Four-Day Work Week?
By 2023, we had worked through COVID as an essential business, dealt with uncertainty, adapted constantly, and then faced the ongoing shortage of qualified mechanics.
We eventually got our team back to where we wanted it, but we realised something important along the way: we were burnt out.
At the same time, our customers’ needs were changing. Plenty of people were working longer hours themselves, which meant later vehicle pickups and longer days for our team. An eight-hour workday could easily become a ten-hour day.
We also knew that running-on-empty mechanics are not exactly something anyone wants under their hood. Working on vehicles requires focus, care and attention to detail. Your safety matters. The quality of workmanship matters. And having a team that is focused and performing their best matters.
Just like a car needs regular servicing and time in the workshop to keep it running at its best, our crew needs proper time off to recharge, reset and come back ready to perform at their best. It made sense for them, for our customers and for the quality of work we do.
The four-day work week seemed like a pretty good place to start.
We Learned Some Things Along the Way!
One of the biggest things we’ve learned is that a day off only helps if you actually take some time off.
Some of us, management included, quickly discovered that filling Friday with another job, endless errands or a packed schedule defeated the point. We learnt pretty quickly that we still need proper rest – even half a day of doing very little can make a huge difference.
Longer workdays have made fitting exercise in a little trickier, although we have found solutions to work around it.
What Has Worked Really Well?
Our customers love the longer opening hours. Longer days from Monday to Thursday mean more flexibility for customers who can’t get their car in or out during traditional business hours.
But, for our team, the biggest benefit has been what that extra day gives them back.
Friday can be used for all those life-admin jobs that are harder to squeeze into a weekend – going to the bank, visiting the doctor, shopping or simply getting things done without half the city being there.
And then there’s the fun stuff.
Fin summed it up pretty well:
“It’s tops, life changing. I love to go fishing on Fridays when the boat ramp isn’t as busy.”
Jackson uses his Fridays for golf:
“I don’t ever want to work a weekend again and now I get Fridays off too. I use my Fridays to play golf!”
For Keira, the extra day means more time for something she’s genuinely passionate about:
“I get to do other things I love, like working on race cars, and I don’t have to use any annual leave to do it.”
And it’s not just about hobbies. Having a weekday free means you can actually go somewhere and enjoy it without the weekend crowds.
Jono likes having the freedom to do exactly that:
“I like working longer days and having Fridays off gives me more opportunities to live life without lots of people around.”
Claire has even been able to use the extra day to make a three-day getaway feel a little longer:
“I like being able to go away for 3 days and having a day to do things without lots of other people around.”
And Aaron perhaps put it most simply:
“I love having 3 days off to do whatever I want!”
Three years in, the four-day week is still working for us! It hasn’t been completely without its challenges. It takes planning, longer days, clear boundaries and a willingness to actually switch off when Friday comes around.
But giving our team more time to rest, pursue the things they enjoy and simply live their lives – while giving our customers more flexibility during the week – has made it pretty hard to imagine going back.
And honestly, we don’t think we’d want to.
Need to book your car in? Contact Angus Car Service and our team will help you find a time that works.
FAQs
Q: Are you still open on Fridays if your team takes the day off?
A: We operate on an extended Monday–Thursday schedule to give our mechanics a consecutive three-day weekend. While our workshop floor is closed on Fridays, our longer daily hours from Monday to Thursday mean you have earlier drop-off and later pick-up options during the week. We get your vehicle road-trip ready by Thursday evening, leaving both you and our team free to enjoy the weekend ahead! We also offer free courtesy cars so if your car isn’t ready on a Thursday you will be provided with a courtesy car. They are also available (pre- booked) for servicing throughout the week.
Q: How do the longer opening hours benefit me as a customer?
A: Longer working days give you more flexibility when dropping off and collecting your vehicle, particularly around your own working hours.
Q: How do you prevent mechanic fatigue during longer workdays?
A: Quality and safety are our top priorities. We structure our daily schedules with dedicated breaks and balance heavy mechanical jobs throughout the day. Paired with a mandatory three- day weekend to fully recharge, our team comes to work sharper, more focused and ready to maintain the high standard of work your vehicle deserves.