4-day work week

[wjfox]

There seems to be a lot of interest in this topic lately, so let's have a thread for news and discussions regarding it.

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Progressives in Congress are backing a bill for a 4-day work week

Juliana Kaplan
15 hours ago

Progressives in Congress are lining up behind a bill that would shrink a regular week of work from 40 hours to 32 — bringing the four-day work week to America.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus just endorsed the aptly named "32-Hour Workweek Act," according to a statement from Rep. Mark Takano, the Democrat representing California's 41st district. The caucus, comprised of nearly 100 legislators, is a key progressive voice and has made its power known during recent infrastructure negotiations.

"For far too long, workers across this country have been forced to put in longer hours as their wages barely budge," chair of the caucus and Washington state Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal, said in a statement.

In the US, wages have been declining for five decades, with economic growth increasingly benefiting workers less. As workers demand more from work, and refuse to work in positions that don't suit their needs, a four-day workweek has caught traction. The shorter week has been shown in other countries to keep business booming and workers happier. Its implementation into law — or at least the mainstream — could mark a pivotal moment in America's rethink of work.

"It is past time that we put people and communities over corporations and their profits — finally prioritizing the health, wellbeing, and basic human dignity of the working class rather than their employers' bottom line," Jayapal said. "The 32-hour work week would go a long way toward finally righting that balance."

https://www.businessinsider.com/congres ... rk-2021-12

[Nanotechandmorefuture]

This is definitely going to lead to less pay since less workdays. In before (inb4) "polywork" makes up the slack for the rest.

[R8Z]

Prediction: companies offering the same pay for having 4-day work weeks will be a trend in this decade. It will be a way to outcompete other companies in the competition for the best employees. Unfortunately only white-collar -- either office or remote -- jobs will benefit from this trend.

[raklian]

Prediction: companies offering the same pay for having 4-day work weeks will be a trend in this decade. It will be a way to outcompete other companies in the competition for the best employees. Unfortunately only white-collar -- either office or remote -- jobs will benefit from this trend.

Naturally. Yup.

[wjfox]

The UAE is adopting a 4.5-day workweek and a Saturday-Sunday weekend

December 8, 20211:57 PM ET

The United Arab Emirates just announced some big changes to its work schedule.

The Gulf nation is transitioning to a 4.5-day workweek, with weekends to consist of Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday.

That's significant for two reasons: It likely makes the UAE the first nation to formalize a workweek shorter than five days, and it also brings the country more in line with Western schedules. Up until now, the UAE has had a Friday-Saturday weekend, which is the standard in many predominantly Muslim countries.

"The extended weekend comes as part of the UAE government's efforts to boost work-life balance and enhance social wellbeing, while increasing performance to advance the UAE's economic competitiveness," said state news agency WAM, which announced the move on Tuesday.

https://www.npr.org/2021/12/08/10624359 ... al-markets

[wjfox]

Four-day working week pilot launched in UK

Monday 17 Jan 2022 10:27 am

A six-month trial period of a four-day working week has today been launched across the UK.

Some 30 British companies are expected to take part in the pilot, which will see no loss in pay for employees working one fewer day a week.

Instead they will be asked to maintain 100% productivity for 80% of their time.

The pilot has been launched by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with think tank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week UK Campaign and researchers at Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College.

Joe O’Connor, pilot programme manager for 4 Day Week Global, said: ‘More and more businesses are moving to productivity focused strategies to enable them to reduce worker hours without reducing pay.

https://metro.co.uk/2022/01/17/four-day ... -15929727/

[wjfox]

Belgium approves four-day week and gives employees the right to ignore their bosses after work

By Tom Bateman • Updated: 15/02/2022 - 14:34

Workers in Belgium will soon be able to choose a four-day week under a series of labour market reforms announced on Tuesday.

The reform package agreed by the country's multi-party coalition government will also give workers the right to turn off work devices and ignore work-related messages after hours without fear of reprisal.

"We have experienced two difficult years. With this agreement, we set a beacon for an economy that is more innovative, sustainable and digital. The aim is to be able to make people and businesses stronger," Belgian prime minister Alexander de Croo told a press conference announcing the reform package.

Workers in the gig economy will also receive stronger legal protections under the new rules, while full-time employees will be able to work flexible schedules on demand.

Putting the reforms into law could take months, however, as the draft legislation must pass multiple readings by federal lawmakers before being enacted.

https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/02/1 ... eir-bosses

[wjfox]

Thousands of UK workers to take part in four-day week trial

Mon 4 Apr 2022 00.01 BST

More than 3,000 workers at 60 companies across Britain will trial a four-day working week, in what is thought to be the biggest pilot scheme to take place anywhere in the world.

Employees from a wide range of businesses and charities are expected to take part in the scheme, which will run initially from June to December, including the Royal Society of Biology, the London-based brewing company Pressure Drop, a Manchester-based medical devices firm, and a fish and chip shop in Norfolk.

It comes as the push for companies to adopt a shorter working week – crucially with no loss of pay while aiming for higher productivity – gains momentum as a way of improving working conditions.

The pilot is being run by academics at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as Boston College in the US, in partnership with the campaign group 4 Day Week Global, the 4 Day Week UK Campaign and the Autonomy thinktank.

Launching the trial to examine how such employment patterns might work at a broad range of companies across the economy, the participation of 3,000 workers means it is larger than a previous pilot in Iceland by Reykjavík city council and the national government that included more than 2,500 workers.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... week-trial

[Tadasuke]

People in the 1960s USA thought we would have 4-day work week. They thought we would work 9 hours per week by 2063. I think it is doable in some industries, but not in others as of today. Generally, people choose to still hire workers for 8h 5days per week, even if productivity increases, they just accomplish more in that time. I do see things moving in that direction in the future, perhaps 6h 4days could become the norm, but gradually. Working class used to work 12h 6days, which is 80% longer than today. And they did not have appliances making life easier. Life of working class early XX century British family was miserable and it was still a bit better than life earlier. We have it much better in developed countries. So much has changed in the XX century, there was invention after invention. I do think that AI and robots will improve productivity, even during this decade, let alone during 2030s and 2040s.

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

If only retail was like this.

[wjfox]

Four-Day Workweek Going Well Globally, Study Says

Dec 5, 2022, 02:24pm EST

A global study into the four-day workweek has reported positive results all round.

33 companies and 903 workers are trialing a four-day workweek over a period of 6 months and in a recent survey, the vast majority reported they would not go back to a five-day workweek after it has ended.

A survey conducted by 4 Day Week Global shows that 97% of the 495 respondents want to stay with a four-day workweek and so do the 27 companies that responded.

The companies taking part in this project were mostly based in the U.S. and Ireland and they reported an increase in productivity and a reported rise in company revenue.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom ... cdbb784195

[wjfox]

South Cambridgeshire District Council staff less stressed on four-day week trial

1 day ago

More than 60% of council workers on a four-day working week trial said they were less stressed, a report said.

Desk-based staff at South Cambridgeshire District Council are taking part in the trial until March.

The trial involves colleagues working a 30-hour week on the same full-time pay.

Two weeks into the trial, 63% of workers said they felt "less stressed" or "much less stressed", while 17% said they were "a little stressed", the district council's report said.

Sixty percent of colleagues said they had enough time to do their jobs, but 17% said they did not.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cam ... e-64453463

[wjfox]

Four-day week: ‘major breakthrough’ as most UK firms in trial extend changes

Nearly all companies taking part opt to continue with new pattern as staff report better work-life balance

Tue 21 Feb 2023 00.01 GMT

The vast majority of companies taking part in the world’s largest trial of a four-day week have opted to continue with the new working pattern, in a result hailed as evidence that it could work across the UK economy.

Of the 61 companies that entered the six-month trial, 56 have extended the four-day week, including 18 who have made it permanent.

The findings will be presented to MPs on Tuesday as part of a push urging politicians to give all workers in Britain a 32-hour week.

Joe Ryle, the director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, called the trial a “major breakthrough moment”, adding: “Across a wide variety of sectors, wellbeing has improved dramatically for staff; and business productivity has either been maintained or improved in nearly every case.

“We’re really pleased with the results and hopefully it does show that the time to roll out a four-day week more widely has surely come.”

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/ ... ss-pattern

[wjfox]

What is it with the Right Wing and their absolute HATRED of progress?

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Rightwing lobby group campaigns to undermine UK four-day week

Fri 7 Jul 2023 15.07 BST

A rightwing lobby group that does not declare its donors is spearheading a campaign to undermine the spread of the four-day week in the UK.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has emerged as a key influence behind ministerial attempts in the last week to try to shut down the first public sector trial of a shorter working week at South Cambridgeshire district council (SCDC).

There are signs of a town hall fightback, with shorter hours now poised to be introduced in neighbouring Cambridge city council, and eight other English councils said to be considering testing the approach. Glasgow city council said it was monitoring pilot programmes and described the four-day working week as “an aspirational position”.

Dozens of private companies have successfully trialled the working pattern, and councils regard it as a solution to acute recruitment and retention problems that nine out of 10 councils say they face.

The levelling up, housing and communities secretary, Michael Gove, told council leaders this week he believed “very strongly” that taxpayers “need to have people working a full five-day week”.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... dApp_Other

[Time_Traveller]

What is it with the Right Wing and their absolute HATRED of progress?

-----

Rightwing lobby group campaigns to undermine UK four-day week

Fri 7 Jul 2023 15.07 BST

A rightwing lobby group that does not declare its donors is spearheading a campaign to undermine the spread of the four-day week in the UK.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has emerged as a key influence behind ministerial attempts in the last week to try to shut down the first public sector trial of a shorter working week at South Cambridgeshire district council (SCDC).

There are signs of a town hall fightback, with shorter hours now poised to be introduced in neighbouring Cambridge city council, and eight other English councils said to be considering testing the approach. Glasgow city council said it was monitoring pilot programmes and described the four-day working week as “an aspirational position”.

Dozens of private companies have successfully trialled the working pattern, and councils regard it as a solution to acute recruitment and retention problems that nine out of 10 councils say they face.

The levelling up, housing and communities secretary, Michael Gove, told council leaders this week he believed “very strongly” that taxpayers “need to have people working a full five-day week”.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... dApp_Other

Because they want one thing only to make workers miserable and still want a 40 hour+ week. They are stuck in the early 20th century.

[wjfox]

Scotland praised for 'leading charge' as SNP 'to bring in four-day work week'

Mon, 4 September 2023

SCOTLAND has been praised for “leading the charge” after reports that Humza Yousaf will bring in a four-day working week for some public sector workers.

In his Programme for Government, which is due to be published this week as Holyrood returns from recess, Yousaf is expected to spell out concrete policies in an attempt to put failures with the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) behind him.

The four-day working week is expected to be trialled for 12 months in the public sector, with an eye on a wider roll-out if it’s judged to be a success.

A four-day working week does not necessarily mean a person will only work four days, according to the 4 Day Week Campaign. Instead, 32 hours of work could be spread over more days in order to help employees achieve a more healthy work-life balance.

In 2022, a six-month pilot scheme saw 61 British companies employing 2900 people end with 56 of them pledging to continue the set-up in some form.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/scotland-prai ... 18947.html

[Time_Traveller]

Scotland praised for 'leading charge' as SNP 'to bring in four-day work week'

Mon, 4 September 2023

SCOTLAND has been praised for “leading the charge” after reports that Humza Yousaf will bring in a four-day working week for some public sector workers.

In his Programme for Government, which is due to be published this week as Holyrood returns from recess, Yousaf is expected to spell out concrete policies in an attempt to put failures with the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) behind him.

The four-day working week is expected to be trialled for 12 months in the public sector, with an eye on a wider roll-out if it’s judged to be a success.

A four-day working week does not necessarily mean a person will only work four days, according to the 4 Day Week Campaign. Instead, 32 hours of work could be spread over more days in order to help employees achieve a more healthy work-life balance.

In 2022, a six-month pilot scheme saw 61 British companies employing 2900 people end with 56 of them pledging to continue the set-up in some form.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/scotland-prai ... 18947.html

This would be interesting how a 4-day working week would work in all sectors though.

[wjfox]

Use of AI could create a four-day week for almost one-third of workers

Mon 20 Nov 2023 16.08 GMT

Artificial intelligence could enable millions of workers to move to a four-day week by 2033, according to a new study focusing on British and American workforces.

The report from the thinktank Autonomy found that projected productivity gains from the introduction of AI could reduce the working week from 40 to 32 hours for 28% of the workforce – 8.8 million people in Britain and 35 million in the US – while maintaining pay and performance.

The study says this could be achieved by bringing large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, into workplaces to augment workers’ roles and create more free time. According to Autonomy, such a policy could also help to avoid mass unemployment and reduce widespread mental and physical illnesses.

Will Stronge, the director of research at Autonomy, said: “Too many studies of AI, large language models, and so on, solely focus on either profitability or a jobs apocalypse. This study tries to show that when the technology is deployed to its full potential, but the purpose of the technology is shifted, it can not only improve work practices, but also improve work-life balance.”

The research found that 28 million workers, or 88% of Great Britain’s workforce, could have their working hours reduced by at least 10% through the introduction of LLMs.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-deve ... of-workers

[raklian]