Germany starts trials for shorter workweeks. Will US companies follow?
German enterprises can now experiment with a four-day workweek, thanks to a unique opportunity provided by a six-month pilot program. 33 businesses have opted to participate in the study since its inception.
Quoted by the mentioned newspaper, the consulting agency Intraprenör states that the participants comprise both small firms with up to 9 employees, and large corporations with a workforce exceeding 249. These companies stem from diverse sectors, including IT, commerce, research, and construction, and the study garners academic support from the University of Münster.
The Six-Month Experiment
Starting February 1, these participating firms aim to reduce the workweek from five days to just four, while maintaining the same salary for the employees, for half a year. Crucially, the companies involved were furnished with training and networking meetings to groom them for the experiment.
In June 2022, the United Kingdom also embarked on a similar project with a four-day workweek, involving 70 firms and approximately 3,300 employees. This six-month-long trial was coordinated by 4 Day Week Global, in collaboration with think tank Autonomy and a panel of scientists. The trial adopted a 100:80:100 model, meaning, 100% pay for 80% of usual working hours, with a requisite commitment to maintain 100% productivity.
Is it possible?
This new work schedule is plausible within individual and task-based working time systems. However, there are reservations about whether reducing the work schedule for all would enhance productivity for every employee.
"Preliminary trials suggest that it can be feasible, but it mainly depends on the type of organization. Employees in sectors such as modern service, consultancy, finance, insurance, and IT are likely to experience success with a four-day workweek. In these sectors, it is practicable to trim the workweek while overseeing costs and production," assessed an advisor to the Confederation Lewiatan's board
Regardless, the expert stresses that not all sectors of the economy can accommodate a trimmed workload. In his view, public service sectors, especially health care, might not be conducive for a shortened workweek.
- Given the deficiency of healthcare professionals and patient access constraints, implanting such a regime, which might compromise the public's health security, is hard to envision. It presents a major challenge. Meanwhile, executing a shorter work week also remains a difficult task within numerous industries, including industrial, construction, and commercial sectors- he explains.
