Belgium has just approved four-day work week. Do you think such a change is necessary in your country or it may lead disruptions?

Question

What do you think about countries making such flexible changes in their working arrangements?

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

What does that even mean? People don't need approval to work. Nor do they need approval to work two days, four days or seven days a week. Here in the US, working four day weeks has always been "approved". Working five eight-hour days is very common, but by no means the only way to work. If I were to guess, I'd guess that 5*8 is not even the majority of full time workers.

There are companies that have worked 4*10 for decades. There are companies that alternate 4-day weeks and 5-day weeks. I've personally worked 4-on, 4-off, 3-on, 3-off.

The only thing remotely related to this i overtime pay. In general it's over 40 hours for hourly employees. Some states (probably a minority) have OT rate for over 8hour days rather than 40 hour weeks.

The only other related thing I can think of is child labor laws which limit the hours of minors.

TroyDT2 · Accepted Answer

A lot of places already have this. Here in California it is the 4-day, 10 hours per day. Oh, you all thought it would be four 8's but still get paid for 40 hours?

"The four-day workweek became a reality in Belgium when the country's governing coalition passed workplace reforms Feb. 15 that included the option for employees to work longer hours in exchange for a three-day weekend."

https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-news/pages/belgium-oks-4day-workweek-option.aspx

sunflower00 · Accepted Answer

I think it’s a great idea tbh. I work 6 days a week and have no time to relax or do anything for myself really. Of course I have evenings but I usually have to spend them doing housework, cooking, doing the food shop, going to the gym or doing other things like that. I would like some time to switch off my brain and do hobbies I enjoy and spend time with people I love. I’m burnt out from work.

DubiousIntentions · Accepted Answer

I think it would relieve a lot of job stress. Some people are working 10 hours a day anyway, so having 3 days off a week instead of 2 would go a long way in giving people some needed rest from their work week. I'm for it. 👍👍👍

Friendlybro79 · Answer

I think a 4 day work week is coming in the US in the next decade maybe two.. I think we need to be more forward thinking to better prepare for how AI is going to effect employment. Why does it have to be 5 days a week for 40 hours. Some jobs I understand might require this or more but corporate jobs that you can do from home can probably don't need to be that long. And corps here in America are great at ripping us off with no pensions and lower than ever wages so the least they can do is give us some time back so we can get a second or third job.

lightbulb27 · Answer

I love it. replace humans with robots, free humans to enjoy life and travel. That be a plan I support:) All people benefit from the robots. Take that down to 2-3 days a week for many. That frees up people to work in schools with kids, etc.. I like it...

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

I’ve worked for a few companies that operated on or allowed four day work weeks. It’s way better in every way for my needs and wants, but sometimes the contractor requires a presence on certain days, and if they don’t have the labor to cover a split week, the four day week just isn’t practicable.

Sargentcaptain · Answer

Sure, fuck it. Crash the economy, burn it all down. People are so fucking stupid they wanna vote for this shit, let them have the consequences. Then people will start wondering why mom and pop stores are disappearing and why even large department stores are operated by robots.

Kabluie · Answer

In tech industry it's more of how you get 40 hours in versus how many days a week. Like in our company, junior level isn't always salary, and there has to be approval to work beyond that. Even Tim Cook said yesterday if you came to Apple Park on a Friday it's a ghost town. Which is true, most can just tidy up the week at home, or be done with work early too.

ArtemisSilver · Answer

That's what it should be. We're not slaves. People are pretty much just as productive either way because they're not burning out and wishing for death.

If you think that's disruptive just wait for AI and domestic robots to mature and go to market.

CallmeTheKnight · Answer

Well it ultimately depends on the economy itself. I'm sure it'll be flexible enough to where everyone is able to work and get fair hours and still be able to provide a service to those in need. It doesn't sound bad, but we'll have to wait and see how it turns out

Marklaw12 · Answer

That's great but completely unnecessary.

Why? Your Thursday becomes your Friday and it will just lead to the same issues as a 5 day work day.

Also, the work becomes an overload on some days and they won't have made adjustments on OTs

I guess it works for Beligum but not in all Jobs.

USLegionary · Answer

Sounds good but it will be interesting to see the result. Will it mean less pay? More hours worked in the day? More jobs on paper? More unemployment?

It's likely to the employers and government's benefit rather than the employees.

Guy13 · Answer

Business Cost Benefit Anskysis of a Crashing Economy. There is not enough of Economy to justify 5 days of Expense. That’s also a wage reduction of at least 8 hours a day.
It is a HORRIBLE and HORRIFIC economic predictor.

Sixgunsound · Answer

I think that when royals or politicians at that level make changes to working arrangements that they've never experienced Nor will they ever , they are inviting a host of unforeseen consequences.

Kori1236 · Answer

I’d love it, but I’m a contractor and responsible for my own taxes, liability insurances etc.. and have to work more than 5 days a week to make monthly bills

Uannoyme · Answer

I used to work 4 days a week, 10 hours a day. I loved it. With the price of gas, it would be great to have to drive to work one less day for a lot of people.

sage2021 · Answer

I would feel envious of people that work only four days a week because for 30 years, I had a strict schedule of 8 hours a day, Monday through Friday - no exceptions most of the time.

Lucy68 · Answer

This keeps up and it doesn't work out in Canada I'm literally moving to Europe and never looking back. America is too greedy and don't care at all

purplepoppy · Answer

It would have to be on a job to job basis. But I could see some resentment from those unable to drop their hours. I assume there won't be a drop in wages.

Astarlessnightsky · Answer

Seems like a good thing, many countries / or individual companies tested this and surprisingly increased productivity.

Red-Blaze · Answer

I think that be great if we had it, maybe less burnout and we could have more time for self improvments to be better for work and for life

Adaeva · Answer

That one of the many problems with government. They want to control instead of letting the market decide.

A_Bell · Answer

It's too complicated to predict how it would settle out. It could be OK or it could be a disaster.

Massageman · Answer

This should not be in the province of the government's control. Companies- not the govt- should set the hours and shifts that will best serve the company, clients and employees.

OddBeMe · Answer

I’ve read it’s successful in Japan, though I’m not sure how widespread it is. But studies definitely like it.

Humans are kinda like workhorses. We have the agility to push through a lot of work in short intervals.

Snakeyes7 · Answer

The businesses already allow their employees to work as often as they want them to. Unless Belgium forced business to have a maximum of four days per week in which case it will definitely cause disruptions.

Bethany22 · Answer

I think that Canada should adopt it as well!

Summeroflove · Answer

This would depend on where you were working

Mangospacho · Answer

It’s true. When the world’s 82nd largest country does something, the rest of the world usually follows. Good for Belgium. Maybe Luxembourg will go next.

BJP21 · Answer

Im not really enjoying only having one day off after a 6.5 day work week. I like to go out and do things not sleep because Im physically and mentally exhausted.

Avicenna · Answer

It's a great policy and I think other countries should adopt it

Cubus · Answer

In some jobs - maybe. But there are some jobs that won't become more productive due to this change. Like hairdresser.

User3191989 · Answer

Doesn't that make the day longer though? You'd still have to work 40 hours a week, right? Or even more. That just makes the day longer

loveslongnails · Answer

As long as everyone isn't off the same 4 days, it could actually be better!

Anonymous · Answer

That would be nice and they could just alternate the days so there would be no disruption in work, I know I’ve been getting tired of doing five days a week for 20 years

AngryCarl · Answer

UK here. We need to work a six day week because a lot of our workforce fucked off to Belgium (presumably). #BrexitBenefits

ZenJen444 · Answer

People need 4 day work weeks because honestly two days off isn't enough especially in the medical field

Luopio27 · Answer

Parenting is a job 24/7 There are no holidays for that.

Pudsmucker · Answer

Some of the companies in the United States have been doing four day work weeks for years.

LimitedBenefits101 · Answer

It will be good for women, most women hate working 3 days let alone 5.

katiesmuff · Answer

I don't see that taking place in the US

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Does that mean they work 10-hour days?

Fireguy17 · Answer

there are a lot of people that work 4 tens.

fonduegirl · Answer

Sounds quite healthy to be honest

Jamie05rhs · Answer

How does that technically work?

Guardian45 · Answer

I FULLY SUPPORT & ENDORSE a four day workweek!

BLP11520 · Answer

May not work in the USA

Anonymous · Answer

Yes, Id totally be down for that.

In_Trance · Answer

Yea i think it is

jimmy2 · Answer

Sounds good to me

Belgium has just approved four-day work week. Do you think such a change is necessary in your country or it may lead disruptions?

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Belgium has just approved four-day work week. Do you think such a change is necessary in your country or it may lead disruptions?

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