Working hours - Ifo: Eleven percent of companies offer a four-day week
Approximately 40% of German companies offer a Four-Day Week, according to an Ifo survey. However, this comes with a price: In these companies, more than half of the employees give up part of their salary for the Four-Day Week. Furthermore, 39% work their full weekly hours in four days instead of the previous five, reported the economic researchers on Friday. Only 10% can reduce their working hours while maintaining full pay.
For more than two-thirds of the surveyed companies, a Four-Day Week is neither possible nor a topic. "Many personnel managers expect a greater need for employees due to shortened working hours," said Ifo expert Diana Schaller in Munich. Sixty-one percent of the surveyed companies see themselves facing a greater labor shortage with a Four-Day Week, 52% view the additional organizational effort as an obstacle, and 40% expect income losses for the entire economy. The Ifo Institute questioned more than 600 HR managers from German companies on behalf of the personnel service provider Randstad.
Despite the potential benefits of a Four-Day Week, many companies in Germany, including those based in Munich, find it challenging to implement due to labor shortages and organizational complexities. Consequently, some employees may need to work extra hours or accept a decrease in salary to enjoy a shorter workweek.
