>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": THE RESULTS ARE IN, AND IT'S ON TO NOVEMBER FOR MICHELLE WU AND ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE IN THE HISTORIC BOSTON MAYORAL RACE.

FORMER STATE SENATORS DIANNE WILKERSON, WHO URGED BLACK VOTERS TO RALLY BEHIND ONE BLACK CANDIDATE, AND LINDA DORCENA FORRY JOIN ME TO TALK ABOUT THE WINNERS, THOSE WHO DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT, WHAT THE VOTERS WERE SAYING, AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER'S FINAL.

THEN, LATER, A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK SUCCESS STORY!

THE C.E.O.

OF THE WANDERLUST GROUP JOINS ME ON HOW THE SHIFT HAS BENEFITED BOTH HIS WORKERS AND HIS BOTTOM LINE.

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO, THE HISTORIC FIELD OF CANDIDATES IN THE RACE FOR BOSTON MAYOR IS DOWN TO CITY COUNCILORS MICHELLE WU AND ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE, AND NEITHER WASTED A MINUTE IN TRANSITIONING TO THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

>> THIS IS ABOUT A CHOICE FOR OUR FUTURE.

THIS IS A CHOICE ABOUT WHETHER CITY HALL TACKLES OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES WITH BOLD SOLUTIONS, OR WE NIBBLE AROUND THE EDGES OF THE STATUS QUO.

>> I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHO THE STATUS QUO CANDIDATE IS, IT'S NOT ME.

WE CAN SAY WHATEVER WE WANT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WE FACE AS A CITY, BUT UNLESS IT'S FOLLOWED UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN, WITH THE WORK, AND WITH THE ROLLING UP OF THE SLEEVES AND DOING IT, IT'S REALLY NOT THAT BOLD.

>> Braude: WU WAS THE FIRST TO DECLARE VICTORY AND THE TOP VOTE GETTER, WITH A THIRD OF YESTERDAY'S PATHETICALLY LOW TURNOUT.

BUT THE RACE FOR SECOND WAS A CLOSE ONE, WITH ACTING MAYOR KIM JANEY AND CITY COUNCILOR ANDREA CAMPBELL BOTH TRAILING JUST A FEW POINTS BEHIND ESSAIBI GEORGE.

IN A STATEMENT EARLIER THIS MORNING, JANEY CONCEDED THE RACE AND CELEBRATED THE HISTORIC NATURE OF HER CAMPAIGN, AS WELL AS HER TIME AS ACTING MAYOR.

SHE WROTE: "AT CITY HALL, AS THE FIRST WOMAN AND FIRST BLACK MAYOR OF BOSTON, WE NOT ONLY MADE HISTORY BUT WE MADE A DIFFERENCE."

AND IN HER CONCESSION SPEECH, ANDREA CAMPBELL FOCUSED NOT ON HER LOSS BUT ON A GREATER WIN.

>> THE REAL WINNER TONIGHT WAS ACTUALLY BLACK WOMEN.

COLLECTIVELY, OUR VOTE SHARE SURPASSED ALL OTHERS, AND WHAT THAT SHOWS IS THAT THERE IS AN APPETITE, INDEED, IN THIS CITY FOR CHANGE, AND I KNOW MY CANDIDACY HELPED IGNITE IT, AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.

>> Braude: JOINING ME TO DISCUSS ARE FORMER STATE SENATORS LINDA DORCENA FORRY AND DIANNE WILKERSON, THE LATTER OF WHOM LED AN INITIATIVE CALLED WAKANDA TWO, WHICH WAS AIMED AT ENCOURAGING BLACK VOTERS TO COALESCE AROUND ONE CANDIDATE.

>> Braude: SENATORS, BOTH IT IS GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> SENATOR FORRY, WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE-AWAY FROM LAST NIGHT?

>> I WOULD SAY MY TAKE-AWAY, FIRST, IS HOW AMAZING THAT WE'RE ENDING THE FINALISTS WITH TWO WOMEN, TWO PEOPLECH PEOPLE OF COLOR, TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF BOSTON.

AND SO, YOU KNOW THAT'S EXCITING, RIGHT?

AND I THINK NOW, AS A WOMAN, AS A PERSON OF COLOR MYSELF, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO DOUBT WITH ALL OF THE COMPAIGNS, THIS HAS BEEN A HOTSPOT FIGHT.

THOSE WHO STOOD WITH ANDREA, KIM, AND JOHN, COLLECTIVELY THEY HAD 43% OF THE VOTE THAT TURNED OUT LAST NIGHT.

NOW THE CAMPAIGN BEGINS AGAIN WHERE THESE TWO CANDIDATES HAVE TO MAKE THE CASE IN TERMS OF THE BLACKS, LATINX, AND THE COMMUNITY.

>> Braude: YOU THINK AFTER 200 YEARS IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE FROM A WHITE GUY LEADING THE CITY.

SENATOR WILL WILKERSON, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION FROM LAST NIGHT'S CAMPAIGN?

>> I THINK NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, WE'RE ABOUT TO TURN A CORNER IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS VERY MUCH SADDENED BY THE FACT WE DO NOT HAVE A BLACK CANDIDATE MOVING INTO THE FINALS.

BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS JUST MORE AT STAKE THAN THERE HAS EVER BEEN GIVEN THE LAST 20 MONTHS FOR BLACK RESIDENTS OF BOSTON.

WE ALWAYS MOVE LOCK STEP WITH LATINO VERSUS SISTERS, SO WE'VE BEEN IN THE VERY SAME PLACE.

AND WE ENDED UP WITH TWO CANDIDATES REALLY NEITHER OF WHICH MADE A MAJOR PITCH OF THEIR CAMPAIGN ADDRESSING THIS POPULATION THAT HAS BEEN SO MARGINALIZED, SO HAMPERED, AND REALLY VULNERABLE IN THE LAST 20 MONTHS, CERTAINLY IN COVID, BUT WE STARTED OFF THAT WAY.

WE WERE CIRCLING THE DRAIN IN MARCH OF 2020, AND IT DIDN'T GET ANY BETTER IN THE LAST 20 MONTHS.

>> Braude: SENATOR WILKERSON, RENEE GRAHAM TWEETED: "WITH THREE BLACK CANDIDATES IN A FIVE-PERSON RACE, THE QUESTION IS ASKED IS BOSTON READY TO ELECT A BLACK MAYOR.

ON TUESDAY BOSTON ANSWERED, AS ONLY BOSTON WOULD, NO."

IS SHE RIGHT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK -- WHEN YOU SAY IS BOSTON READY, AND YOUR ANSWER BEING NO, I THINK SHE IS RIGHT.

BUT I DON'T THINK THE INTERPRETATION WAS THAT SHE WAS ONLY TALKING TO WHITE BOSTON.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY WAS READY, EITHER.

>> Braude: I'M NOT SURE I AGREE WITH THAT.

I WANT TO QUOTE YOUR COLLEAGUE HERE, SENATOR FORRY, THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THIS ELECTION WHO VOTED FOR ONE OF THE THREE BLACK CANDIDATES WAS QUITE LARGE, WAS 40%.

AND WOULD YOUR EFFORT, WAKANDA TWO, HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL -- WHICH OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT, THERE WAS NOT UNIFYING BEHIND ONE BLACK CANDIDATE.

I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT A BLACK WOMAN WOULD BE IN THIS FINAL, DO YOU NOT, SENATOR WILKERSON?

>> I DON'T BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT YOUR NUMBERS.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS BORNE OUT OVER THE NEXT TWO OR THREE DAYS.

THE BLACK COMMUNITY WAS OVERWHELMING SUPPORTIVE OF KIM JANEY.

SO HAD THERE BEEN NO DISCUSSION OF WAKANDA, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT, THERE IS NO QUESTION.

BUT PEOPLE HEARD WHAT WE SAID.

AND SO BEING READY MEANS THAT YOU'RE PREPARED TO DO THE STRATEGY.

IT IS NOT JUST THE NUMBERS.

I ALWAYS SAY THIS: IF ALL YOU NEEDED WAS A MAJORITY, APARTHEID WOULD NEVER HAVE LASTED THIS LONG.

WHAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE WAS A STRATEGY.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING THE MAJORITY.

>> Braude: SENATOR FORRY, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

WHAT DO THE VOTERS OF BOSTON SAY BY NOT SENDING ONE OF THE THREE BLACK CANDIDATES INTO THE FINAL?

>> YEAH, I MEAN I WOULD SAY THAT I THINK BOSTON IS READY, RIGHT?

IN THIS DAY AND TIME, THERE WERE SIX CANDIDATES OF COLOR FOR THE PRELIMINARY.

ONE DROPPED OUT, SO THERE WAS FIVE.

IT WAS SANTIAGO.

BUT THERE WERE THREE BLACK AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE RACE.

AND I THINK WE ARE READY FOR IT.

AND SO WHEN YOU SEE IT IS REALLY ABOUT MOBILIZATION, IT IS ABOUT CAMPAIGN, IT IS ABOUT IDENTIFYING THE VOTE -- DIANNE, YOU KNOW THIS -- AND MAKING SURE WER ABLE TO TURN PEOPLE OUT.

WHEN YOU SEE THE TURNOUT, IT IS KIND OF THE SAME PERCENTAGE FROM 2013 -- >> SINCE THAT TIME -- >> YEAH, AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE HAD 100,000 NEW VOTERS ADDED TO THE ROLL.

THAT'S A PROBLEM, RIGHT?

I THINK THAT IT IS -- IT IS A MOMENT WHERE, YES, IT IS WONDERFUL, WE HAVE TWO WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, AS A BLACK WOMAN SITTING HERE TO SEE A BLACK PERSON, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, IN THE FINAL.

BUT IT IS STILL A JOYOUS MOMENT BECAUSE IN THIS TIME THERE IS NO WHITE MALE WHO IS GOING TO BE MAYOR.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE'VE COME A LONG WAY.

BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AS DIANNE WAS SAYING ABOUT STRATEGY.

THESE ARE GROWN-UPS, JIM.

THEY HAD A CAMPAIGN; THEY HAD A TEAM.

PEOPLE CAME TO ME FOR ADVICE BEFORE RUNNING.

AND I WAS REAL, I GAVE IT REAL, IN TERMS OF MY IDEAS, WHETHER THEY SHOULD RUN OR NOT, AND PEOPLE MADE DECISIONS TO RUN.

I THINK THAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT.

THESE ARE FOLKS WHO HAVE MADE THE DECISION, THEY'RE IN THE RACE, AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.

>> Braude: SO I WANT TO PICK UP ON WHAT BOTH OF YOU SAID, STARTING WITH YOU SENATOR FORRY, WHAT IS THE STRATEGY TAKE-AWAY TO MAKE IT MORE LIKELY DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE DO SEE A BLACK CANDIDATE IN THE FINAL, THAT WE DO SEE A BLACK MAYOR OF BOSTON?

WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM LAST NIGHT THAT SHOULD GUIDE BLACK CANDIDATES AND THEIR SUPPORTERS DOWN THE LINE?

>> YEAH.

I WILL SAY, FIRST OF ALL, IT WILL BE GREAT TO DIVE INTO THE NUMBERS, RIGHT?

AS WE SAID, THE NUMBERS ARE NOT QUITE TOTALLY OUT YET IN TERMS OF THE DISTRICTS AND THEIR AREAS AROUND THE CITY -- >> Braude: OF COURSE.

>> -- AND WHERE PEOPLE GOT THE VOTES.

BUT THERE WERE COALITIONS FOR THESE BLACK CANDIDATES, TOO.

IT WASN'T JUST THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT PROPELLED ANDREA'S 19.7% OR JOHN'S 3%, RIGHT?

THERE WAS A COALITION OF WHITES AND LATINX AND ASIANS THAT WERE WITH THEM, TOO.

WHAT IT SAYS IS THOSE PEOPLE ARE READY FOR A BLACK/AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR.

WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBERS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT, RIGHT?

IT IS, IN TERMS OF THE DILUTION SOMETIMES THAT MAY HAPPEN.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

BUT, AGAIN, IT IS AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT NOW BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO CANDIDATES, AS DIANNE SAID, WHO DID NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING THE BLACK/AFRICAN-AMERICAN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, THE LATIN COMMUNITIES, AND THIS IS THE TIME TO REALLY HAVE THEM SHARE THEIR VISION, WHAT IS IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THEY WILL BE CARRYING?

AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IS THE MAKEUP OF THEIR CABINET GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

WILL IT BE REFLECTIVE OF OUR CITY OF BOSTON?

>> Braude: SENATOR WILKERSON, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE ABYSMAL TURNOUT.

2013 THE TURNOUT WAS LOW THEN, BUT IT WAS HIGHER THAN YESTERDAY, WITH, I WOULD ARGUE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE FIELDS OF CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR THAT I'VE SEEN ANYWHERE IN A LONG TIME.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE PATHETIC TURNOUT IN THIS CITY?

>> I DON'T CALL 30% PATHETIC IN TERMS OF MAYORAL RACES, I DON'T.

I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED THAT WE -- I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO HIT THAT, BY THE WAY.

I PREDICTED 22% BECAUSE WE CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE AND UNDERCOUNT THE IMPACT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.

AND COVID IS REAL.

THERE WERE TWO FUNERALS YESTERDAY OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DIED IN OUR COMMUNITY OF COVID, JIM.

SO IT IS VERY REAL.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

I THINK NUMBER TWO IS THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HERE.

I ACTUALLY THINK THAT CERTAINLY GALVIN -- SECRETARY GALVIN PREDICTED 25% BECAUSE THEY SAW WHAT WE SAW: NOT A WHOLE LOT OF ENERGY, NOT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE OUT.

THESE WERE VERY GOOD CANDIDATES, YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE FIELD.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT -- I HAVE TWO OTHER THINGS I WANT TO ADD TO THE MIX.

>> Braude: PLEASE.

>> ONE, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE ONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS IN THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOU'VE HAD TALKS ABOUT THIS RACE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT FOR THE MEDIA AT LARGE TO SIT BACK AND SAY, OOH, WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN THEY SPENT THE LAST SIX MONTHS, FIVE MONTHS, IN THE MOST VICIOUS ATTACKS OF THE INCUMBENT MAYOR FROM DAY ONE.

AND THEN THE MAJOR DAILIES ENDORSED THE BLACK WOMAN CANDIDATE AND THEN NEVER WROTE ANOTHER GOOD ARTICLE ABOUT HER.

AND THEN WROTE FOUR WEEKS OF DAILY ARTICLES ABOUT MICHELLE WU.

>> Braude: WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SENATOR WILKERSON, EVERY SINGLE DAY SINCE THAT AD WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GLOBE, EVERY SINGLE DAY WAS AT OR NEAR THE TOP OF THE WEBSITE.

WHICH IS HOW MOST OF US READ -- >> WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE INK, THE ARTICLE THAT WAS WRITTEN.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU, AS I SAID.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHAT, DO THEY THINK WE'RE STUPID?

IF THEY'RE ENDORSING ANDREA, WHY ARE THEY WRITING ARTICLES ABOUT MICHELLE.

THAT'S NOT MICHELLE.

IN THIS TIME, TWO YEARS, ALL OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT RACIAL RECKONING, JUSTICE, EQUITY, YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF FUNDS, CORPORATE COMMUNITY HAS JUMPED IN, ALL OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER SIGNS, THEY GAVE ALL OF THEIR MONEY TO NOT A BLACK CANDIDATE, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE TO ADD IT ALL UP.

THE LATINO COMMUNITY WAS AMAZING, AND I DON'T WANT TO MISS THAT, YOU KNOW?

THEY JUMPED OUT THERE AND REALLY DUG IN IN SUPPORTING THE INCUMBENT MAYOR.

WE HAD OUR OWN BLACK ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO SAT THIS OUT.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

>> Braude: SENATOR, WE'RE FAIRLY SHORT ON TIME.

LINDA DORCENA FORRY, STARTING WITH YOU QUICKLY, IF I CAN, HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE CHOICE TO VOTERS FACE IN NOVEMBER?

>> WELL, FIRST I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON DIANNE, REALLY QUICK.

ACTING MAYOR KIM JANEY, I SERVED ON HER TRANSITION TEAM, AND I THINK SHE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB MANAGING THIS CITY IN THIS TIMEFRAME.

BUT SHE WAS NOT A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR UNTIL AFTER BECOMING ACTING MAYOR.

YOU HAD TWO CANDIDATES WHO CAME OUT ALREADY.

ONE WAS A BLACK AFRICAN-AMERICAN AMERICAN WOMAN AND MICHELLE WU.

>> Braude: WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THIS.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE FACING, QUICKLY, IN NOVEMBER?

>> THIS IS THE TIME WHERE MICHELLE AND ESSAIBI GEORGE HAVE TO SHARE THEIR VISION.

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THEY ARE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, TOO, YES.

BUT IN PARTICULAR, THE BLACK AND LATINX COMMUNITY, THIS IS WHERE THE VOTE IS AT.

AS I THINK OF JOHN BARROS, THIS IS A PRELIMINARY.

MANY ISSUES CAME UP: EQUITY, PROGRESSIVE VALUES, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, AND HOW DO WE BRING AN HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED GROUP, BLACK AND BROWN, THAT THEY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

IT IS IMPORTANT THEY VOICE THAT, THEIR VISION AND STRATEGY AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

>> Braude: SENATOR WILKERSON, YOU HAVE THE LAST 30 SECONDS.

WHAT ARE THE CHOICES VOTERS ARE FACING ON IN NOVEMBER?

>> DITTO.

WE HEARD FROM BOTH CAMPS, AND THEY'RE CALLING, WHICH THEY SHOULD DO.

NO ONE IS GOING TO GET ELECTED MAYOR WITHOUT DOMINATING THE VOTE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

IN FACT, IT IS MORE FOCUSED NOW.

ASK MARTY WALSH, IF YOU COULD.

THE REALITY IS THAT WE ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN LACONDA MODE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH THEM, BUT WE'RE MEETING ON THURSDAY THIS WEEK.

THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN FAST.

WE WILL HAVE A LIST OF THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

IT WON'T BE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO SAY TRUST ME, RIGHT?

BUT ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO BE MAYOR, AND I WILL GUARANTEE YOU IT WILL BE ONE WHO IS GOING TO HAVE TO PUT SOME REAL COMMITMENT, NOT THE WEAK AT HEART, WHAT LINDA DORCENA FORRY TALKS ABOUT, WHICH IS A REAL PLAN THAT GETS LAID OUT.

AND THE PERSON WHO IS ABLE TO DO THAT IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BOSTON.

>> Braude: TRUST ME, YOU'LL BOTH BE BACK.

SENATORS, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: THIS FRIDAY AT 7:00, JOIN ADAM REILLY, THE GBH NEWS POLITICAL TEAM, AND THE "NEW YORK TIMES" NEW ENGLAND BUREAU CHIEF ELLEN BARRY, AMONG OTHERS, AS THEY EXPLORE THE BOSTON MAYORAL RACE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CITY'S FRAUGHT RACIAL HISTORY, AND WHY THE EYES OF THE NATION ARE UPON US IN "BOSTON'S RACE INTO HISTORY."

FRIDAY AT 7:00 ON GBH 2 AND ONLINE AT gbhnews.org.

REGULAR VIEWERS OF THIS SHOW KNOW BY NOW THAT I'VE LONG BEEN OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK.

AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS ONLY FOUR AND A HALF DAYS MYSELF, I'VE ALMOST REACHED THE PROMISED LAND.

AND NOT TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO, BUT I TOLD YOU SO.

A LOCAL COMPANY IS JOINING FOUR-DAY EMPLOYERS LIKE SHAKE SHACK, SOCIAL MEDIA SOFTWARE COMPANY BUFFER, AND KICKSTARTER, STARTING IN 2022, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THAT I WAS ONTO SOMETHING.

LAST MAY NEW ENGLAND-BASED OUTDOOR TRAVEL TECH COMPANY, THE WANDERLUST GROUP, DECIDED TO CUT MONDAYS FROM THE WORK WEEK TO HELP ADDRESS PANDEMIC BURNOUT.

AND A YEAR-PLUS LATER, THEY'RE QUITE HAPPY WITH THEIR TUESDAY TO FRIDAY WORK WORLD.

HERE TO TELL US HOW HAPPY IS MIKE MELILLO, C.E.O.

OF THE WANDERLUST GROUP, >> Braude: MIKE, IT IS GREAT TO MEET YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US ON.

>> Braude: YOU TOLD ME BEFORE WE STARTED THIS YOU WERE A SKEPTIC TO BEGIN WITH.

WHY DID YOU GIVE IT A SHOT IF YOU WERE DOUBTFUL ABOUT ITS PROSPECTS?

>> YEAH.

MY PAST LIFE WAS AS A PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER, AND IT IS NOTORIOUS THERE ARE NO TIMES OFF AND IT IS KNOWN AS THE GRIND.

THIS WAS QUITE AM AMPITHETICAL AS TO HOW WE OPERATE.

WE WERE BURNED OUT.

I NOTICED THE LACK OF PRODUCTIVITY.

MY SUNDAY AFTERNOONS WERE COMPLETELY STUCK PLANNING FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.

EVERYBODY'S NEW FAVORITE DIET STARTS MONDAY MORNING.

NOBODY WAS HAPPY.

WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO THIS REALLY WASN'T ABOUT WORKING LESS; IT WAS ABOUT PUTTING A CONSTRAINT ON THE ORGANIZATION TO STOP PEOPLE SITTING IN ENDLESS MEETINGS.

>> Braude: BUT YOU ARE WORKING LESS.

WE SHOULD BE CLEAR -- I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS, MOST OF THE COMPANIES IN AMERICA THAT HAVE GONE IN THIS DIRECTION HAVEN'T DONE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

THEY'VE COMPRESSED THE WORK WEEK INTO FOUR DAYS.

SO THEY'RE 10-HOUR DAYS.

YOU HAVE FOUR TRADITIONAL DAYS AND NO REDUCTIONS IN PAY.

AM I RIGHT ABOUT BOTH?

>> YOU ARE CORRECT.

ON OUR BEHALF, THE NIV NINE TWO FIVE STARTED WITH HENRY FORD BACK IN THE '20s.

COVID WAS, AGAIN, A CATALYST FOR REALIZING HOW DIGITALLY COLLECTED WE ALL WERE.

WE WENT TO A FOUR-DAY, TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AND MONDAY IS JUST LIKE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

PRODUCTIVITY INCREASED, HAPPINESS INCREASED, AND OUR RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

>> Braude: GIVE US THE RESULTS.

PROFITS ARE UP AND REVENUES ARE UP?

>> EVERYTHING IS UP ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> Braude: IS THERE A CAUSAL CONNECTION?

DO YOU KNOW THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THOSE GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN, YOUR TRANSITION TO A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK?

>> I WOULD BE NAIVE TO SAY IT IS ONLY ONE THING.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS PUTTING PEOPLE IN A BETTER POSITION TO DO THEIR BEST WORK.

IT WAS ABOUT REMOVING THE OBLIGATION THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD TO BE IN MEETINGS ALL OF THE TIME AND GIVE PEOPLE THEIR TIME BACK.

>> Braude: WHEN I WAS DOING RESEARCH ON THIS YEARS AGO, BEFORE I BECAME TOTALLY OBSESSED WITH IT, WHAT A LOT OF EMPLOYERS TOLD ME WHO WERE AGAINST I, BUT I THINK THEY MEANT IT IN GOOD FAITH, EVEN IF WE GIVE PEOPLE TIME OFF, WE HAVE SUCH DEDICATED PEOPLE, ALL THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS WORK ON THEIR DAY OFF.

I WANT TO PUT UP A GRAPHIC THAT I THINK YOU BELIEVE DEMONSTRATES IT IS WORKING IN YOUR COMPANY.

YOU LOOKED AT THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOUR EMPLOYEES SPENT ON SLACK.

LET'S PUT THAT UP.

AND EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THOSE GRAPHS -- THAT GRAPH TELLS US.

>> THIS IS A GREAT GRAPH BECAUSE IT TELLS THE ENTIRE STORY.

I THINK PEOPLE BOTH RESPECT AND PRESERVE THAT MONDAY IS A DAY IN WHICH IT IS FOR OURSELVES.

WE ARE AN OUTDOOR TRAVEL COMPANY, SO OUR COSTUMERS NEED US SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND WE HAVE ADJUSTED THE SHIFTS TO ACCOMMODATE OUR TEAM TO BE ON FOUR-DAY WORK WEEKS ACCORDINGLY.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE SOME MESSAGES ON MONDAY.

EVERYBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO HONOR IT AND KEEP IT ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHERE IT IS GOING TO GO IN THE FUTURE.

WE THINK IT IS THE NORM.

WE DON'T THINK IT IS THAT BIG OF A MOVE ON OUR BEHALF.

WE THINK THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD IS GOING.

I THINK THE WAY WE EXCHANGE AND INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY.

AND THE NOTION WE HAVE TO BE ON THE COMPUTER MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY IS, FRANKLY, DEAD.

>> Braude: HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY COMPLAINTS FROM WORKERS WHO FEEL PRESSURED TO HAVE TO DO WHAT THEY DID IN FIVE DAYS IN FOUR?

>> NO.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY APPRECIATE WE TRUST THEM TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND TO COMPLETE THEIR JOBS.

OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM, I THINK IT ELEVATED THEM CONSIDERABLY BECAUSE THEY WERE FORCED TO HAVE WRITE MORE CLEARLY AND SET EXPECTATIONS.

SO I THINK IT HAS BEEN A POSITIVE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

>> Braude: I WAS READING SOMETHING YOU WROTE AND YOU SAID, THE ONLY THING THAT MADE ME UNHAPPY, YOU SAID I'M NOT SURE IT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.

THE ONLY ARGUMENTS I'VE HEARD AGAINST IT THROUGH THE YEARS IS WHERE WE HAVE TO BE AVAILABLE TO OUR CLIENTS ALL OF THE TIME, BUT YOU ACCOMMODATED THAT.

IF A COMPANY THAT GOES TO A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK IS WILLING TO DO SOME ROTATION AMONGST ITS WORKERS SO SOMEBODY IS AVAILABLE ALL OF THE TIME TO A CLIENT, CUSTOMER, A PATIENT, WHY IS THERE VIRTUALLY ANY PLACE WHERE A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK ISN'T WORTH A PILOT, MIKE?

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T WANT TO PROJECT WE HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR EVERY TYPE OF BUSINESS.

I HOPE PEOPLE MAKE PEOPLE WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE THEY'LL COME TO WORK FOR US.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE DISCIPLINED ABOUT HOW YOU SET THE STRUCTURE, AND IT IS ABOUT SETTING THE RIGHT EXPECTATION.

MY BIGGEST TAKE-AWAY FROM THE PAST 18 MONTHS OF HAVING THIS IN MARKET IS THAT IT IS MORE THAN PLAUSIBLE.

AND IF YOU SET IT UP CORRECTLY, BOTH YOUR EMPLOYEES AND COSTUMERS WILL BE HAPPY.

>> Braude: IF YOU HAD GONE TO ANY EMPLOYER, LET'S SAY 20 MONTHS AGO, AND SAID, HEY, I'VE GOT A GREAT IDEA: LET'S CREATE A HYBRID WORKPLACE WHERE ALL OF YOUR EMPLOYEES COME IN THREE DAYS A WEEK AND THEY WORK AT HOME TWO DAYS A WEEK, THEY WOULD SAY THAT WOULD BE THE END OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

AND WE'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 18 MONTHS.

GETTING BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID, IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO EXPERIMENT, PARTICULARLY WHEN COMPANIES ARE HAVING TROUBLE TO RECRUIT NEW PEOPLE, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO AT LEAST EXPERIMENT WITH THIS.

AM I RIGHT?

>> I THINK YOU'RE DEAD-ON.

WITH ONLY HALF THE COUNTRY CURRENTLY VACCINATED, THERE IS AN EXTENDED PRESSURE ON FAMILIES WHO HAVE KIDS AND CHILD CARE.

THERE IS THAT STRESS THAT YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE.

WE'RE NOT COUNTING DAYS.

WE'RE NOT CREATING SOME ARBITRARY RULES BECAUSE WE SIGNED TOO LONG OF A LEASE AGREEMENT PRIOR TO COVID AND WE WANT EVERYBODY BACK AT THE OFFICE.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS IS HERE TO STAY.

>> Braude: MIKE, MAY YOU SPREAD THE WORK.

GOOD LUCK WITH THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: NEXT UP, KIDS HAVE LOST OUT ON A LOT OF LEARNING TIME THIS PAST YEAR-PLUS, BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS ALSO FUELED ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: A GROWING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

SO AS LIZ NEISLOSS TELLS US, ONE GROUP IS ADDING ANOTHER SKILL SET TO THEIR CATALOG, OFFERING HELP TO STRUGGLING TEENS.

>> Reporter: A LIBRARY CAN FEEL LIKE A REFUGE FOR ANYONE, ESPECIALLY A TEEN.

>> Reporter: NOW ARRIVING SOPHOMORE, 15-YEAR-OLD ANGEL MARIN CACERES STILL REMEMBERS HER LIBRARIAN AT CAMERON MIDDLE SCHOOL IN FRAMINGHAM.

>> SHE -- SHE -- SHE WOULD NOTICE THAT YOU'RE, LIKE, FEELING DOWN.

AND, ALSO, JUST TO ASK YOU A ASK QUESTION, IF -- ARE YOU OKAY?

DO YOU NEED ANYTHING?

AND, LIKE, SHE WOULD JUST LISTEN TO YOUR PROBLEMS, IF YOU HAD ANY, OR JUST FELT LIKE VENTING.

>> Reporter: NOW THAT LIBRARIAN, ELIZABETH THOMPSON, IS PREPARED TO DO MORE THAN JUST LET HER STUDENTS CATALOG THEIR TROUBLES.

SHE'S RECENTLY COMPLETED SPECIALIZED TRAINING LIKE THIS, TO TEACH LIBRARIANS TO HELP TEENS HAVING MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

IT IS NOT JUST FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS.

STATEWIDE, LIBRARIES ANTICIPATE A RISE IN NEED AND USE COVID RELIEF FROM THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES TO FUND THE EFFORT.

THEY IS SEE THIS TYPE OF TRAINING AS OVERDUE.

>> I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT BEFORE COVID, BECAUSE I SAW THE NEED THEN.

BUT I THINK EVEN IN THE FALL, YOU KNOW, IT IMPACT IS STILL GOING TO BE THERE, AND KIDS ARE STILL GOING TO BE STRUGGLING.

AND THERE WILL STILL BE ANXIETY, AND THERE WILL STILL BE DEPRESSION, AND THERE WILL STILL BE JUST THE USUAL ADOLESCENT STUFF.

IT IS HARD ENOUGH.

>> Reporter: EXPERTS ON CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH SAY A CRISIS HAS BEEN BREWING IN THE ISOLATION OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND THAT VERY ISOLATION CUT OFF CHILDREN FROM AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE.

>> CHILDREN REALLY GET THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IN SCHOOLS.

AND SO WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE SHUTDOWN, THAT ACCESS FOR SERVICES WAS GONE.

AND THE MORE WE CAN LET ADULTS, TRUSTED ADULTS, SEE THOSE ASSIGNS OF PEOPLE LOOKING FOR HELP, THE BETTER WE'LL BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND SUPPORT THESE KIDS.

>> SITTING WITH A PERSON AND REALLY HEARING THEM OUT AND HEARING WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, MIGHT BE WHAT A PERSON NEEDS.

>> Reporter: IMAGINATION MASSACHUSETTS TRAINING FOR LIBLIBRARIANS IS RUN BY THIS GROUP.

>> WE STILL PEOPLE ARE WORRIED THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT WRONG, SO THEY DEND TO NOT ANYTHING.

>> Reporter: WHEN TEENS AREN'T BURROWED IN THEIR BOOKS, THEY OFTEN SHARE WHAT IS BOTHERING THEM, SAY LIBRARIANS.

SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW TO HELP.

>> WHEN THEY SHARE THINGS WITH YOU, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT?

IT WAS SUPER, SUPER HELPFUL.

>> Reporter: ON THE SURFACE, SCHOOL MAY LOOK LIKE BACK TO NORMAL IN THE FALL, BUT WITH TRAINING, LIBRARIANS MAY NOW BETTER READ THE NEED FOR HELP.

LIZ NEISLOSS, GBH NEWS.

>> IN MANY PLACES, NEEDY RESIDENTS MANY SPEND THEIR DAYS IN LIBRARIANS.

TO COPE WITH THE RISING PRESSURE ON LIBRARIANS IN RECENT YEARS, GROWING NUMBERS OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES NOW HAVE FULL-TIME LIBRARY SOCIAL WORKERS.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

PLEASE COME BACK TOMORROW.

LAURENCE TRIBE WILL JOIN US ON HOW A DECADES-OLD MASSACHUSETTS CASE ON LIQUOR LICENSES, BY THE WAY, COULD END THE TEXAS ABORTION LAW, AND WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS NOT PROSECUTED DONALD TRUMP.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING; PLEASE STAY SAFE.

♪♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org