Four days of work, three days of rest and time with the family, and best of all, with the same salary. That’s probably a good week of work for most employees. Its advocates promise not only greater satisfaction, but even greater productivity.
Belgium also now opts for a four-day working week, but with the same schedule. Employees can decide flexibly, week by week, whether they want to spread their hours over four or five work days. According to the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander de Croo, this is intended to boost the economy and improve compatibility between family and work. However, individual shifts can be quite long in the case of full-time employment.
What other countries and companies have considered these models? DW summarizes some examples:
Iceland: many can shorten
Iceland tried a similar scheme between 2015 and 2019. Also, at the same time, it reduced working hours from 40 to 35 or 36 hours a week, with no change in salary. In the test phase, 2,500 workers participated.
The outcome of the study was evaluated by the Icelandic non-profit organization Alda (Association for Democracy and Sustainability) and the thinktank UK Autonomy: Employee well-being was significantly improved, work processes were streamlined, and work was done more closely with colleagues. Productivity was largely maintained or even increased.
At the end of this test phase, unions and associations negotiated permanent reductions in working hours. About 86 percent of workers are now entitled to a four-day workweek.
Scotland and Wales: expensive experiment
Scotland is also testing the four-day work week. The participating companies receive the support of the State with about 10 million pounds. And the debate has also reached Wales. The person in charge of future generations, Sophie Howe, has raised this demand at least for the public sector.
Sweden’s verdict is mixed
In Sweden, the four-day working week with full pay was already tried in 2015, but the verdict was mixed. Even the Swedish left considered the application too expensive. But nevertheless, Some companies have maintained the idea of reducing the working day.
The Toyota car company, for example, had already shortened mechanics’ work shifts about ten years ago and has kept it up ever since.
Finland: Fake news goes around the world
Finland also briefly made international headlines for a drastic reduction in the working day: the northern European country reportedly wanted to introduce both a four-day work week and a six-hour day. But it was fake news, which the Finnish government later clarified.
Spain in preparations
In Spain, the four-day working week will be put to the test at the request of the left-wing More Country party. Some 6,000 employees of 200 small and medium-sized companies will be able to extend their weekend by one day, with full salary.
The testing phase will last at least one year. It is not yet clear when the project will start.
From startup to megacorporation
In Germany, it is mostly small start-ups that are experimenting with the shorter week.
In other countries, such as Japan, large companies are also daring to try the idea. the technology company Microsoft sent its employees on a long weekend for a month: The performance achieved supposedly increased by 40 percent. However, Microsoft later retracted the figure.
In New Zealand, the food and drug company Unilever is testing the four-day week with equal pay for a year. If the model is a success, the company wants to extend it to other countries. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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