Germany reduces the work week to four days to increase productivity

Germany will implement a scheme for six months in which the working week is reduced to four days, with the aim of reducing a chronic labor shortage.

This test will allow employees of 45 companies across the country to work one day less a week for the same salary .

The initiative, which only involves companies whose work can be adapted to a shorter working week, is led by the Berlin management consultancy “Intraprenör” and has the collaboration of the non-profit organization “4 Day Week Global” ( 4DWG).

According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK, in its original language), in November, half of the companies They had difficulties filling vacancies, which caused the country to lose more than 90 billion euros (more than 2% of German GDP).

They hope to be happier and more productive

The defenders of workweek They hope that working four days a week will make workers happier and more productive at a time when Germany faces slower productivity growth and labor shortages.

A Forsa survey indicates that 71% of workers would like to work only four days a week and in business, more than two out of three companies, on average, support the motion.

A complicated productivity situation in the work environment

After reaching a historical maximum of 105.20 points in November 2017, the productivity of Germany has decreased steadily, according to data from the Deutsche Bundesbank, although it is still higher than that of other large economies in Europe.

In November 2023, the latest data available, productivity fell to 95.80 points from 96.79 points the previous month.

According to supporters of the four-day work week and most workers who have already tried it, working one day less a week would increase the well-being and motivation of workers, making them more productive.

Working fewer hours per week could also convince those unwilling to work a full week to enter the workforce, helping to reduce the current labor shortage affecting industrialized countries around the world.