Germany launches 4-day workweek trial
BERLIN, GERMANY — Germany has launched a major six-month trial of a four-day workweek across 45 companies, allowing employees to work one less day per week on full pay.
Aiming to boost productivity and address labor shortages, the initiative is led by Berlin-based management consulting firm Intraprenör, which specializes in organizational culture and transformation, together with the non-profit 4 Day Week Global (4DWG).
Advocates believe a shorter 32-hour week could increase well-being and motivation. Supporters highlight a 2020 survey conducted by research company Behaviour & Attitudes for Forsa, showing 71% of workers want a four-day option, with 75% saying it would be desirable for employees and 59% achievable for employers.
Moreover, a study by global HR research firm Josh Bersin Company and the Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence revealed that a four-day workweek boosts productivity and benefits employers and staff.
The dry run comes as Germany grapples with thousands of unfilled jobs nationwide, resulting in €90 billion ($96.9 billion) in lost output annually, over 2% of GDP, according to DIHK’s Deputy Chief Executive Achim Dercks.
Around 31% of European employees are willing to move to another country just to have a four-day workweek, according to strategic insight agency Opinium Europe.
Although no country has fully adopted a four-day workweek, some are experimenting with the arrangement, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Belgium, among others, according to 4dayweek.io.
