In 2023, Swedish accessories brand Sandqvist cut their workweek from five days to four—without reducing salaries. The move was first suggested by the company’s CEO, Caroline Lind, and quickly embraced by founders Daniel Sandqvist and Sebastian Westin, who saw an opportunity to improve employee well-being and rethink how time is valued at work. Since then, the change has reshaped the company culture and even the founders’ own relationship to work.

Benjamin Dane: Why did you decide to introduce a four-day workweek at Sandqvist?

Daniel Sandqvist: When our CEO came to us with the idea, we were drawn to it—one of the motivations for running our own business has always been freedom. The possibility of having more time was something we wanted to pass on to our employees. But the main motivation was employee well-being—reducing the stress of everyday life when you’re juggling kids, shopping, cooking and work.

BD: How did your employees react when you announced it?