73% of companies will not return in the next five
The reduction of the working day is currently at the center of the current labor debate in Spain. However, it is not the only country that is considering its working hours. Germany has just finished its experiment on the four-day work week and its preliminary results are already in: 73% of the participating companies no longer want to return to the five-day work week.
germany testAs we have already published in Xataka, the German experiment of implementing a four-day working week started at the end of 2023. The German government followed the 100-80-100 model (100% salary, 80% working hours and 100% performance) audited by the 4 Day Week Global organization, which had already shown good results in trials in the United Kingdom or from Valencia. Have received. ,
As in previous trials, the project consisted of two phases: an analysis and optimization of processes lasting six months, and a second in which, once the changes were implemented, four-day weekly workdays began for six months. Up to 20% of normal working days.
weeks that are not always four days longThe ultimate aim of the German experiment was to test different implementation models for reducing working hours, so not all participating companies opted to work four days and be off on the fifth day. Instead, they applied different distribution formulas to account for this reduction in working hours.
Some companies opted to trim days asynchronously between teams, so that departments could work with fewer people each day. In other cases, the 4.5-day working week was opted for, increasing holidays proportionately for those employees who implemented it.
45 broad spectrum companiesTo make the test representative of the reality that the German business community would face if this reduction in working hours were implemented, the companies participating in the project ranged from micro businesses with 1 to 9 employees to large corporations . With more than 250 employees.
A broader representation of their economic activity was also sought. Companies dedicated to manufacturing, insurance, technology, media, commerce or education have participated.
73% stay with four daysThe most immediate data after the conclusion of the pilot test is that 73% of the participating companies will continue to reduce working hours after they have implemented it. Within this group, 20% are going to make small adjustments, but largely maintain it. Only 20% of the participating companies have announced that they are going to return to the previous model. 7% of companies are unsure whether to return to the previous model.
do more in less timeIn terms of productivity the German trial has given similar results to previous experiments in Valencia, Portugal, the United Kingdom or South Africa. This is not exactly good news for Germany, which has an inadequate productivity rate. Data provided by companies shows that after reduction in working hours, companies have remained at the same level or have slightly increased in terms of productivity.
The reason: 60% of companies reduced the frequency and duration of their meetings, and 25% incorporated new digital tools to streamline their processes. Perceptions of productivity among employees increased during the experiment, as did their work speed, but their workload decreased due to the optimizations implemented.
employee welfareOn the level of job satisfaction, the work experiment fares similarly to its international predecessors. 50% of the employees responded that their health has improved significantly. 13% claimed that they had improved in some aspects and 31% claimed that they had improved a little during the test. Only 6% did not see improvement.
The data shows there has been an improvement in employee satisfaction, with employees reporting they slept an average of 38 minutes more per week and practiced more sports, this was reflected in lower levels of stress during the week and they reported increased employee engagement. Retention recorded eight-point growth.
German employers want flexible working hoursGerman version of business insider Published that the BDA business association is not in favor of reducing the working day, but rather adapting it as the companies participating in the project have done to make it more flexible.
BDA CEO Stephan Campeter assured that: “Where appropriate, work more from Monday to Thursday and take Friday off. Companies and employees can agree on this.”
In Xataka Employees in Spain dispel doubts: it is better to work fewer days than fewer hours, according to a survey
Image | Unsplash (Nate Johnson, Kevin Woblick)