A Toronto-based software company is piloting a program this summer that would shift its employees to a four-day work week.

In a press release on Tuesday, Alida Inc. said the program will begin in July.

The company, formerly known as Vision Critical Communications Inc., said it made the decision after “listening to employee feedback using its own Voice of Employee technology.”

“The program will serve as a trial to better understand how the organization and its employees respond to a 4-day work week, in hopes of making it a permanent part of its benefits program and culture” , the statement said.

Ross Wainwright, CEO of Alida, said the pandemic has been a “real trigger for rethinking the world of work”.

“We’ve listened to our employees over the past year and heard how they want and need more flexibility to better take care of their mental health,” Wainwright said in a statement.

“Today’s employees are juggling between burnout, ever-changing government restrictions, and the health and safety of their families.”

He said the company’s goal with the trial was “to further establish a culture where we celebrate balance with increased flexibility and confidence, which results in happier, more productive employees.” .

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Hermina Khara, senior vice president of human resources and culture at Alida, said it was time for companies to “meet employees where they are when it comes to work.”

“We believe our employees can make the best decisions for themselves about how and when they work. We want to give them more opportunities to nurture their mental and physical well-being so they can perform at their best at work,” Khara said.

“Piloting a 4-day work week is a bold step for Alida, and we anticipate it will be a great success.”

According to the release, the company will take the next few months to prepare to transition its more than 500 employees to a four-day work week.

The company said all employees would keep their full salary and benefits during the pilot program.

To start, employees will take Friday off, the statement said.

“Alida will measure success based on productivity and business results, in addition to leveraging its Alida TXM platform to gather feedback on employee happiness levels,” the statement said.