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December 6, 2024 | 12:13 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Several countries have begun to adopt a four-day work system as a means of enhancing employee well-being and boosting company productivity.
This concept offers a compelling approach that balances the professional and personal needs of employees by providing them with more time for rest, family, and personal development.
This policy is grounded in research suggesting that shorter working hours do not necessarily translate to decreased productivity, but can instead foster increased efficiency and creativity.
The four-day work week arrangements can vary significantly. Some countries may require employees to work fewer total hours per week, while others may maintain the same weekly hours but compress them into four days.
Here is a list of 6 countries that have implemented a four-day work week.
1 Belgium
According to Tech.co, Belgium became the first European country to officially adopt a four-day work system in 2022. This new regulation grants Belgians the right to complete a full week's workload in just four days.
Belgian Prime Minister Alex de Croo stated that this policy is intended to enhance flexibility for both individuals and companies in managing their work schedules.
2 United Arab Emirates
In the UAE, all government employees have been afforded the option to work a four-day week since July 1, 2023. While this policy does not extend to all workers in the UAE, approximately 90 percent of the country's workforce is employed within the public sector, enabling most residents to benefit from this work arrangement.
3 Australia
In August 2022, Australia made a significant step in transforming its work culture by launching a pilot program for a four-day work week system. This trial, involving 20 companies, marked a crucial milestone in the transition away from the traditional five-day work schedule commonly practiced by most Australian workers.
For six months, employees maintained their full pay while working 80% of their usual hours. This approach is considered a groundbreaking development in Australia's work culture, encompassing companies across diverse sectors, from finance to fashion.
4 Germany
Germany has concluded its first trial of a four-day workweek system. This program, a collaborative effort between 4 Day Week Global, Intrapreneur, and the University of Münster, was designed to assess the impact of reduced working hours on productivity, employee well-being, and work-life balance.
Initiated in September 2023, this trial involved 41 organizations that fully embraced the four-day work week model. However, some companies opted out due to economic or operational constraints. After six months, the trial results demonstrated a significant impact.
5 Portugal
According to Euro News, following the success of various pilot programs across Europe, Portugal is now taking a progressive step by joining a trial of the four-day work week concept.
As part of a government-funded initiative announced in early June of last year, 39 private companies participated in this program. These companies collaborated with the nonprofit advocacy organization 4 Day Week Global.
6 United Kingdom
In the UK, companies that participated in a six-month trial plan to make the four-day work system a permanent policy. This experiment, which commenced in June 2022, involved numerous companies and emerged as one of the largest pilot programs globally.
The primary goal was to evaluate the impact of reduced working hours on productivity, employee well-being, environmental sustainability, and gender equality, with the results garnering high praise from participants.
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