4 Countries that have shifted to 4 days workweek…!
Should we adopt the same too?
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Since the time work from home concept came in, we all are facing a major issue. That there is no boundary between “Work” and “Home”. There are no fixed working hours and we all are working near about 10-12 hours a day UNKNOWINGLY. Now that India is habituated with the 5 days a week concept, still, two days aren’t enough for the family and living our own lives besides work. So here are a few countries that are adopting 4 days the week concept. In the last few years, many countries adopted this 4 days week thing and saw a huge increase in employee retention rate and in their productivity as well.
Here are the top 4 countries that have adopted 4 days a week recently. Let us tell you more about the same :
1. UAE: UAE took the first of its kind decision in 2021 by giving their employees 4.5 days a workweek concept. For UAE employees there will be flexible working hours/half day on Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays will be completely off. This concept is running in a few offices as of now, but employees are happy with this work structure.
2. Japan: Japan is famous for its overwork culture and employees dying from overwork is not unheard of. However, in June 2021, Japan’s government introduced 4 days of the workweek for a better work-life balance. Japan’s employees were a bit skeptical about the same, however, Microsoft Japan has seen a 39% increase in productivity in their employees after 4 days work concept was introduced. Also, post that Panasonic also introduced 4 days a week and employees are seeing great results for the same.
Japan proposes four-day working week to improve work-life balance https://t.co/Wj0rZCsZpV
— Abhilasha (@FernFly) June 23, 2021
3. Iceland: Iceland was one of the few countries which adopted this work concept in the beginning. After introducing 4 days workweek concept, Iceland employees felt less stressed, and their overall health and work-life balance improved. Reports show that the retention rate of employees in a particular company has also been increased.
Four-day week 'an overwhelming success' in Iceland. Shorter hours, same pay, same or even improved productivity, smaller carbon footprint.
— Rutger Bregman (@rcbregman) July 6, 2021
➡️This should be the future of work. https://t.co/RJ37Xrxyiw
4. Ireland: Ireland also introduced a 4 days work week pilot project. With no loss of pay for employees from January 2022. Irish tech company Typetec set to become the first Irish IT services company to introduce a four-day working week. It joins 20 other Irish businesses experimenting with the four-day week. After that 17 companies also followed this concept and saw some great results in terms of employee productivity.
The #4DayWeek pilot provides business supports, advice & mentoring to help companies roll out the scheme across their workplaces. #FourDayWeek is better for business, better for workers, better for women & better for the environment. Go to https://t.co/q4zvBhlFap for more info⏳ pic.twitter.com/ocOyNrfb0O
— Four Day Week Ireland (@4DayWeekIreland) June 22, 2021
Looking at new employee reform rules in other countries, Can India also introduce something like this? Is a huge question. In December 2022 news broke that India might adopt 4 days work week soon with 12 hours a day, and a lesser salary. Now, will Indian employees will agree to work on these conditions? Or will it be feasible for Indian companies? We still don’t have an answer for that.
However, for better work-life balance, 6 hours a day and 5 days workweek can also be a good option at the same time 9-10 hours a day and 4 days workweek can also a way. What will help the employees to have better health and worklife balance is something that should be done.
- Niharika Pole Sarwate
Bharati Web
