Germany’s new four-day work week is gaining popularity, with 73% of businesses adopting it.

Germany’s four-day work week trial, which lasted six months, produced encouraging results. Almost three-quarters of the participating enterprises decided to either extend the experiment or fully adopt the model.

GERMANY: A survey published on Friday claims that of the 45 enterprises included in the pilot project, 73% are abandoning the custom of working five days a week. These companies will either carry out the four-day workweek in its entirety or keep evaluating its feasibility. Two sizable businesses, however, left the experiment early due to financial issues and a lack of internal support.

Germany is facing a demographic issue, much like many other Western economies. By 2035, it is anticipated that over 7 million workers will have left the workforce. Due to the inability of immigration and birthrates to keep up with the demands of an aging population, businesses are being forced to investigate alternate job patterns.

Trial participants reported significant improvements in their physical and emotional well-being, while participating employers saw increases in their rates of recruitment and retention. The financial performance stayed consistent despite the shortened workweek, with revenue and earnings remaining unchanged. In several cases, productivity increased in businesses.
Similar results from experiments conducted in the UK, Portugal, and South Africa are corroborated by the German pilot’s success. Increased productivity, increased employee well-being, and enhanced employer appeal were the main drivers of involvement.

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