Spain Likely To Experiment With Four-Day Work Week, A First For Europe
The Spanish government has reportedly agreed to the launch of a new pilot project that would allow companies to give their employees a four-day workweek, with the goal of boosting not only productivity, but improving workers' mental health as well.
The four-day work week is gaining popularity around the world, and many countries are willing to test the method on a trial basis to understand if the move will really be feasible and beneficial.
The latest addition to the bandwagon of countries experimenting with the idea is, Spain. The Spanish government has reportedly agreed to the launch of a new pilot project that would allow companies to give their employees a four-day workweek, with the goal of boosting not only productivity, but improving workers' mental health as well.
If all goes to plan, Spain will become the first country in Europe to have a four-day work week. It is estimated that the pilot could get under way as soon as autumn.
Exactly what the pilot program will look like is unclear. An individual with the industry ministry told The Guardian that nearly every detail was still up for negotiation, including how many companies will be involved and how long the experiment will last.
Also read: More Companies Are Saying A Four-Day Work Week Is Actually Good For Business
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Earlier in the year, left-wing Spanish party M¨¢s Pa¨ªs announced the government had accepted its proposal to test out the idea.
Supporters of the four-day work week model say employees being better rested leads to increased productivity and more committed, happy workers.
Also read: The Centre May Soon Allow Us To Have A Four-Day Work Week
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It is also believed that the less time spent at work is better for the environment as workers will leave a smaller carbon footprint, and it would also allow parents looking after children to have a more effective work-life balance.
Although the push for a four-day work week was already gaining support before the pandemic, the radical changes to office life has made the idea seem more viable to politicians around the world.
Also read: NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Floats 4-Day Working Week Plan To Let People Travel More & Boost Economy
