Do any countries have a 4 day week?

Belgium introduces a four-day workweek for employees who want it. Belgium became the first country in Europe to legislate for a four-day week. In February 2022, Belgian employees won the right to perform a full workweek in four days instead of the usual five without loss of salary.

Which country work 4 days a week?

Iceland. Cold little Iceland – a country with just over 350,000 people living in it – actually has more workers working a four-day workweek than almost anywhere else in the world. After running one of the world's largest and longest trials into the four-day workweek between 2015 and 2019, it seems to have caught on.

Is there a 4-day work week in the UAE?

In January 2022, Sharjah Government implemented a 4 day week scheme, making them the first local government in the United Arab Emirates to shorten the work week. Read on to learn about the impact this had on job performance, employee mental health and the local economy.

Does Germany have 4-day work week?

Germany has started a six-month four-day workweek trial that will allow employees at 45 companies across the country to work one less day per week for the same pay.

Will there ever be a 4-day work week?

Some US states are trialling 4-day weeks in an effort to promote employee wellbeing, with some companies already committed. While the heated debate about working remotely rages on, a new workplace disruptor is slowly emerging – the 4-day week.

The Countries With A 4 Day Work Week

What country has the lowest work week?

Countries with the lowest average weekly working hours worldwide 2022. Kiribati in the Pacific was the country with the lowest average weekly working hours per employee in 2022, with the most recent value showing that the population of Kiribati worked on average less than 28 hours per week.

What are the disadvantages of a 4-day work week?

Pros of a 4-day work week can include cost savings, increased productivity, and employee retention. Some disadvantages, however, can include scheduling challenges, reduced productivity, and added stress.

Which country has the lowest working hours?

Is it illegal to work on Sunday in Germany?

The German workweek, unlike its American counterpart, is tightly regulated. For example, the Hours of Work Act stipulates that no one can work on Sundays and public holidays. Also, Germans can only work five or six days a week for a maximum of 48 hours and no more than eight hours daily.

What is the 4-day work week UK?

Most of the UK companies that took part in the world's biggest ever four-day working week trial have made the policy permanent, research shows. Of the 61 organisations that took part in a six-month UK pilot in 2022, 54 (89%) are still operating the policy a year later, and 31 (51%) have made the change permanent.

Does Dubai have 4 working days?

The UAE is the first country to transition to a 4.5 hour work week schedule. Here are some key details: The intensive workdays of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will be 9 hour days, with the aim of concentrating the majority of work on these four days and extending the weekend.

Does Dubai have a 5 day work week?

4 Day Working Week in the United Arab Emirates

With this shift, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the first country in the world to officially move to a work week that is less than the traditional 5 days. The province of Sharjah has gone one further, and has adopted 4 day week model.

What is the 4 day work week in Africa?

In the continent's first such trial, South Africa worked with 4 Day Week Global, the organization that partnered with the UK on its successful pilot program. While most countries that have run similar trials have given workers Fridays off, South Africa allowed its workers to choose.

What is the hardest working country?

A recent study by Business Name Generator probes Malta as the hardest-working country out of 150 other nations. The analysis found that the average paid work hours per week in Malta is 42.8, with 91.1% of workers putting in 49 or more hours per week.

Will Canada have a 4 day work week?

Canada's Move Towards the 4-Day Work Week

Canada's exploration of the 4-day work week began in early 2022 with a pilot program led by 4 Day Week Global. By October, a second wave of companies joined, aiming to maintain full productivity with reduced hours.

What country has 6 hour work days?

Sweden. The 6 hour workday has been subject to reoccurring debate since the early 70's after the prominent sociologist and politician Alva Myrdal proposed to implement it to Sveriges socialdemokratiska kvinnoförbund.

Why is Germany closed on Sundays?

This is due to the Ladenschlussgesetz or "Store-closing law," which forbid stores from operating on Sundays. The Ladenschlussgesetz was put into effect in 1956 in former West Germany. The law stayed this way with only minor revisions until 2006.

Is lunch break paid in Germany?

If you work more than 9 hours a day, the break is extended to 45 minutes. Labour law prohibits taking the break at the end of the day's work in order to leave earlier. Breaks are not considered working time and are therefore not paid.

Is it legal to work 12 hours a day in Germany?

Working hours should not exceed 8 hours daily. They can be extended to 10 hours daily as long as the weekly hours are not more than 48.

Which country is most overworked?

What country has the best work life balance?

The countries with the best work-life balance in the world are Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, and Austria, according to a reputed study. More recent research also places Japan on the list.

What is the most hardworking country in Asia?

On the other hand, Singapore is the most hardworking country in Asia followed by China, with Singaporeans working an average of 45 hours per week and the Chinese closely following at 42 hours per week.

Do you get paid less for 4-day work week?

Many employers are embracing the idea of a four-day workweek, where employees work fewer hours but still receive the same pay as a standard 40-hour week. According to the Society for Human Resource Management¹ (SHRM), more than half of American employers offer or plan to offer a four-day workweek.

Is a 4-day work week healthier?

Surprising benefits of four-day working week

Results showed people in the programme had higher self-perceived health status, reduced levels of stress, were less tired and felt happier and more personally satisfied.

Why we shouldn't have a 4-day week?

A four-day week causes workers to squeeze more hours than usual into a day. For workers who are already prone to overwork, the additional burden of compressing five days into four could literally break the camel's – or worker's – back.