Spain may very well become one of the only countries in the world to work four days per week as it is setting itself up to trial the new schedule in the coming weeks.
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A game-changing new work schedule
After campaigning for such a model to be implemented in hopes of boosting productivity, Iñigo Errejón of leftwing party Más País, was successful in convincing Deputy Prime Minister, Pablo Iglesias, last December, to look into the option. And as the plan is now going forward, Errejón expressed excitement in a Tweet he posted:
With the four-day work week (32 hours), we're launching into the real debate of our times. It's an idea whose time has come.
The initiative will be optional and open to all companies that want to participate in the trial. And most importantly, for those who want to take part in the new scheme, all costs will be covered in their entirety for the first year. For the second year, they will be covered at 50% and the third year will covered at 33%.
In a study conducted by Trades Union Congress in 2019, results found that those who live in countries with shorter working hours per week are more productive.
Others to follow suit?
New Zealand's PM Jacinta Arden has also expressed wanting to implement a new work schedule so as to encourage Kiwis to boost the country's economy by getting them out and about and kickstarting the tourism and hospitality industries. In a Facebook Live video last year, the PM said:
Ultimately, that really sits between employers and employees. But as I've said there's just so much we've learnt about COVID and that flexibility of people working from home, the productivity that can be driven out of that.
And added:
Think about if that's something that would work for your workplace, because it certainly would help tourism all around the country.
