Did you know that a growing proportion of companies in France are already experimenting with a four-day working week?
Adopting this practice raises fascinating questions about work-life balance, productivity and employee well-being.
What is the four-day week?
The four-day work week is a new trend in labour law that could be implemented in two ways:
- Reduce the total number of working hours per week, without lowering wages
- Keep the 35-hour week, but increase daily working hours
Several large companies, such as KPMG in France, have already adopted a four-day week. Abroad, similar initiatives are being tested by 200 companies in Spain and several in the UK. In Iceland, after a successful trial period, the four-day week has been generalized.
The benefits of a four-day work week
The four-day work week can have several advantages for employees and employers. For example:
- Increased productivity
- Reduced absenteeism
- Improving well-being at work
- Attracting new talent
- Reduced operating costs and carbon footprint
The challenges of a four-day work week
However, the four-day work week also presents certain challenges. For example, it could :
- Creating problems in personnel management and work-life balance
- Making implementation tricky and costly
- More stress for employees who have to work more at the same time
- Affecting sales and profitability
- Problems of competitiveness
- Additional hiring required
- Reducing employees’ social ties with the company
What do you think of the four-day work week?
Adopting a four-day working week is a decision that depends on the specific situation of each company. If you have any questions on this subject, Cabinet DESRUMAUX AVOCATS can help you assess whether this option is right for your company, and how to implement it effectively.
We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences on this fascinating subject. Is the four-day work week the future of work? We look forward to hearing your views.
