Could the U.S. get a six-day workweek?
Per the Guardian, pro-business Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis explained that, “the nucleus of this legislation is worker-friendly, it is deeply growth-oriented. And it brings Greece in line with the rest of Europe.”
However, the facts prove otherwise. For example, in 2022, Belgium became the first European nation to introduce a four-day workweek.
In addition, Iceland, with its population of nearly 383,000, is said to have more workers on a four-day work week calendar than almost anywhere else in the world. And in Lithuania, public-sector employees with children under age three are allowed to work only 32 hours a week without any reduction in their pay.
As for America? A survey by Resume Builder revealed that — out of 753 American business leaders — 9% plan to institute a six-day workweek in 2025.
The study notes that "one in six [Americans] think full-time employees should work more than 40 hours per week," while the 9% "believe a six-day workweek would increase revenue and productivity."
Could this idea truly catch on in Corporate America? The same Resume Builder survey offers a glimmer of hope for those living in fear of a six-day workweek: 31% of business leaders advocated for a four-day workweek, while more than half (61%) were fine with keeping the five-day status quo.
But if it's increased productivity some American business leaders want, they might want to consider the opposite end of the scale. Here’s why.
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Did Greece get it wrong?
Thus far, Greece is one of the few countries hoping to benefit from a six-day workweek. However, most business leaders worldwide aren’t in favor.
The 4 Day Week Global movement is the brainchild of entrepreneur Andrew Barnes, and Charlotte Lockhart, who sits on the board of the Wellbeing Research Centre at the U.K.’s Oxford University.
Their efforts, which have exploded in popularity in recent years, boast plenty of data that backs up the case for a four-day workweek.
Of the businesses and organizations that tried the four-day workweek, 25% reported increased revenue, 66% saw a reduction in burnout, and 32% noted a decrease in employee resignations.
To back that up even further, a June 2023 case study of 41 Portuguese companies and their 1,000-plus employees showed that worker exhaustion decreased by 19%, while work/life balance challenges dropped from a whopping 46% to a mere 8%.
In addition,creative output jumped by 70%. Perhaps the most relevant statistic is this: 95% of the Portuguese companies evaluated the trial positively.
As for the situation in Greece, it remains to be seen as to whether it will backfire and kick off a worker revolt or even greater exodus.
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