Flex Fridays: An Evolution of the Work Week

Cockroach Labs introduced Free Fridays in 2016 as a non-traditional way to support work-life balance for its employees. The program allowed employees to have one day a week where they could self-manage their time, leading to increased happiness and productivity. However, as the company grew and new teams were introduced, Free Fridays evolved into Flex Fridays in 2019 to accommodate different needs within the organization while maintaining the spirit of flexibility and balance. Today, each department defines what Flex Fridays mean for them, with a common goal of removing meetings, encouraging focus, and creating a more balanced work week.