Germany is the latest to join the European tests of reducing the working day to four days and is launching a pioneering system called 100-80-100.
Conversations around the four-day work week were first reignited by the COVID-19 pandemic, as workers and companies reconsidered the importance of flexibility and benefits in the workplace — along with the idea of teleworking. .
The idea is simple: Employees would work four days a week, earn the same pay and get the same benefits, but with the same workload. —This last point is very important—.
Unions across Europe are calling on governments to implement the four-day working week and countries such as Belgium, Portugal, Scotland or even Spain, starting with some tests, have decided to take the step.
Now it has been learned that, finally, Germany joins the list. This country has one of the shortest average work weeks in Europe. According to the World Economic Forum, the average work week is 34.2 hours. However, unions have demanded a further reduction in working hours and the start of a system known as 100-80-100.
What is the new German 100-80-100 work system?
This innovative system is characterized by maintain 100% of employees’ salaries, with an 80% reduction in working hours and achieve 100% performance in terms of productivity.
The supervision of this entire process falls to the company 4 Day Week Global, supported by the University of Münster, which is giving guidance to companies to optimize their efficiency in less time and offers solutions adapted to the needs of each company.
This pioneering project has a planned duration of six months, with an application window open until September 1. Currently, 50 companies have already shown interest in participating and it will take place between February and August 2024.
However, the implementation of the four-day work day requires certain conditions. It is argued that this should be a decision by companies and not a government imposition and is considered most suitable for companies large enough not to compromise their competitiveness by reducing working hours.
