Work-life balance: Four-day week is catching on
In an era where work-life balance and mental health are increasingly prioritized, the four-day work week is making significant strides worldwide. This model, promising a shorter work week without a reduction in pay, is capturing the interest of both nations and corporations.
In the United Arab Emirates, significant changes began in January 2022 with a four-and-a-half-day work week, and Sharjah adopted a four-day model within the same year. Dubai is currently experimenting with a reduced workday for government staff in a pilot project running until the end of September.
South America is also joining the trend. Chile recently amended its Labor Code to gradually reduce weekly working hours to 40, with full pay, over the next five years. Incentives are being offered to encourage companies to adopt the new model sooner. Similarly, Brazil has seen a positive response to its four-day work week trial, with nearly half of its companies opting to make the shift permanent.
The United Kingdom’s major trial in 2022 resulted in most participating companies choosing to continue the four-day week, with a third committing to the model long-term. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the experiment as a success and a significant step forward in workers’ rights.
Singapore has responded to evolving work trends by allowing workers to request a four-day week and flexible work locations starting in April 2024. Meanwhile, Germany’s largest workers’ union is exploring a four-day week in response to recent corporate changes, and Japan, grappling with the severe issue of overwork, is considering the model as a potential solution.
However, not all responses are favorable. Costa Rica’s pilot project had mixed results, and South Africa’s trial showed promise but has yet to result in nationwide adoption. Conversely, Egypt is moving in the opposite direction, planning to extend working hours, while Greece has introduced a six-day work week to bolster its economy post-financial crisis. In India, prominent figures like Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy advocate for extended work hours to boost productivity, and Australian mining tycoon Chris Ellison has imposed strict work conditions on his employees.
As the debate over the four-day work week continues, it is clear that many are eager to embrace this innovative model. Whether it will become the new standard or remain a contested issue depends on ongoing trials and the responses from both employees and employers globally.
