Exos released the Exos Readiness Culture Code, and as part of that, will participate in a four-day workweek research pilot, the company announced on March 29.
The Exos Readiness Culture Code is a blueprint to reimagine corporate culture and equip employees with the physical, mental and emotional capacity to meet the demands of modern work.
The four-day workweek study seeks to understand how purposeful recovery can help workforces feel more energized and be more productive, according to the announcement.
During the six-month pilot program, Exos will partner with researchers at the Wharton School of Business — including organizational psychologist and bestselling author Adam Grant and doctoral candidate Marissa Shandell — on a study to gauge the impact of implementing the Exos Readiness Culture Code and assess how reducing work days affects well-being and performance.
"We're thrilled to launch this important research with a team that's forward-looking and data-loving (not to mention fun-loving),” Grant said. “In the future of work, nothing will matter more than well-being, and Exos is a trailblazer in exploring how we can sustain our energy—and our excellence. I hope to see more companies follow their lead in running these kinds of experiments."
With nearly 30 years of experience coaching elite athletes and managing corporate wellness programs for 25 percent of Fortune 100 companies, Exos built the Readiness Culture Code on its science-backed core philosophy: it isn't the constant grind that fuels performance — it's purposeful recovery.
"We can't stop all the inevitable stresses and fires that come with day-to-day life, but we can help ensure your mind and body are ready to take them on so you can thrive," said Exos' Chief Executive Officer Sarah Robb O'Hagan. "The future of work is readiness, and we're distilling what we've learned over the past 30 years to make work healthier, more collaborative, and more productive. Businesses must operate differently, and the Exos Readiness Culture Code is a ground-breaking blueprint to help them pave the path forward."
The Exos Readiness Culture Code creates a framework of behaviors as well as daily and weekly practices, including a four-day workweek, to encourage a pro-recovery culture. This method creates an environment that fulfills and empowers employees with a renewed sense of purpose, passion and community, allowing them to perform to their full potential, according to the announcement.
The company’s best practices focus on the individual, the team and the organization.
For individuals, Exos provides help in the form of the Exos Fit app, access to programs such as The Game Changer (a six-week coach-led virtual program to help with performance) and Exos monthly workshops to help non-coach team members understand Exos methodology. Exos also establishes "recovery norms" that help set boundaries for a healthier culture, such as adding time zones in email signatures so people don’t feel pressure to stay connected outside work hours.
Team best practices include using meeting and communications framework to help prevent task switching. For example, calendar chunking is where team meetings are hosted on Tuesdays and Thursdays, allowing Mondays and Wednesdays to be dedicated to more individual work or one-to-one collaboration. Exos uses The Team Builder workshop to teach skills and start conversations required to help teams operate more effectively. They utilize four chapters of programming including psychological safety, recovery, flow, and principled dissent focused around how they recommend team members should work together.
For the organization, team members can participate in employee resource groups and special interest groups through Belonging at Exos. Exos also believes in community outreach through its Coach for Good social impact program. Continuous Improvement Summits and education series offer team members opportunities to develop their skill sets while bolstering the company’s culture rooted in curiosity with a commitment to continuous improvement.
Through partnerships with various companies, Exos team members can take advantage of exclusive partner perks from brands such as Vuori and Hyperice.