Project starts in 2024
50 companies dare to work a four-day week with full wages
8/30/2023 3:31 p.m
There has been a lot of discussion for a long time: productivity, work-life balance, effort for employers – now it’s being done. From February 2024, 50 companies will test the effects of the four-day week with full wages. Hope and skepticism are balanced. A study should provide facts.
A comprehensive pilot project to introduce a four-day week will start in Germany at the beginning of 2024. This was reported by the editorial network Germany (RND), citing the consulting agency Intraprenör, which coordinates the project in Germany. 50 companies from different industries from all over Germany will therefore test the working time model from February 1st: For six months they will reduce working hours from five to four days with the same salary.
This was followed by a scientific evaluation by the University of Münster, as the RND further reported. The pilot study will be accompanied by the 4 Day Week Global initiative. Accordingly, representatives of the IG Metall trade union, the employers’ association BDA and the Central Association of German Crafts sit on the advisory board.
“Flexible working hours are an important incentive for many companies when recruiting skilled workers. This also includes the four-day week,” said Advisory Board member Kristian Schalt from the employers’ association BDA to the RND. A flat-rate four-day week with full wage compensation is not an option for the vast majority of companies.
Increased productivity is essential for success
“The question will be exciting as to whether a reduction in working hours is accompanied by a significant increase in productivity,” he told the RND newspapers. “Without this increase in productivity, the four-day week model would hardly be viable for companies in the long term.”
Sophie Jänicke, board member of IG Metall and also a member of the advisory board, told the RND newspapers that the four-day week has proven its worth in many companies to secure jobs. “It increases the work-life balance of employees and can thus also increase the attractiveness of companies.”
The Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH) was more cautious: “Especially in smaller companies, it is questionable whether, with an already thin staffing level, individual employees can easily be permanently dispensed with for individual days,” said a spokeswoman when asked by RND.