Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses. Youll see I included city, state, and county governments as well to give a full picture of the movement from the public sector. The Netherlands, 29.5 hours 2. We already have this email. 1) Microsoft Japan ran a four-day work week trial called the Work Life Choice Challenge in the summer of 2019. Morningstar: 2018 Now, roughly 86% of Icelanders work four-day weeks. "Learn more about Spain's 4-day work week pilot. 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For example, in a trial run of six-hour days (a related concept to four-day weeks) at a Swedish health care facility, the 68 existing nurses felt less stressed and enjoyed improved quality of life, but the facility had to hire 17 new employees to make up for the lost productivity. There are a variety of mechanisms by which you can support people in these more flexible ways of working, which can be helpful in terms of inclusion and well-being and balance of life.. Netherlands has had a short average work week (29 hours) since the early 1990s, and has many part-time workers. World's shortest work weeks Americans work an average of 38 hours a week, even after factoring in part-time jobs. All data on employee hours and part-time work are for dependent employees, meaning it does not include self-employed workers. (Status: Partial)Continue, The 40-hour work week is so ingrained in office culture that most business leaders dont even think about it. Denmark, 32.5 hours 3. Of course, the length of time you work per week is far from the only factor that might cause employee unrest. The promise of a shorter workweek led people to organize their time and delegate tasks more efficiently, the study found. Most nations of the world operate on a five-day workweek. The duration of the workweek varies widely by sector and region. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. At 33 hours per week, Denmark has 2nd shortest average workweek in the world, an OECD report suggests. Critics of the four-day workweek point out that it can put an untenable strain on the finances of the employer. In other words, if you want a better work-life balance, northern Europe is the place to be. The bill will be discussed in the House of Commons on October 18, 2022. Norway, 33.6 hours 4. Spain kicked off a government-funded three-year trial in Sept 2021 that includes 200 to 400 companies operating on the 100-80-100 model. Many of the countries with the longest hours worked tend to have especially low minimum wages. Denmark back next Average hours per week: 33 Average annual wages: $46,000 When the OECD ranked nations based on work-life balance last year, Denmark came out on top. Shorter Workweek Leads To Greater Happiness, No Loss in - NPR Penn World Table, 2019 data shows the 10 countries with the worlds longest workweeks (in hours). The Netherlands also enjoys a pretty high employment rate of 76 percent, so getting a job there in the first place might be pretty doable. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Learn more about Iceland's 4-day work week story. Mercenaries from Russia's military company Wagner have launched joint drills with the Belarusian military almost a month after their short-lived rebellion. Switzerland averages 34.6 hours and is followed by Austria, Belgium, and Italy, which all clock in at 35.5 hours a week. While Myanmar is transitioning from an agrarian economy to one oriented on industry and service, the World Bank has found that employment quality has not yet caught up to this shift. The work culture in. Leisure time appears to be an important contributing factor to life satisfaction the countries with longer typical workweeks had lower life satisfaction scores based on the OECDs annual Life Satisfaction Survey. The OECD data is based on the average usual weekly hours employees spent at their main job. While some find their work lives fulfilling, countries with shorter workweeks tend to have residents with higher life satisfaction. In addition to the four-day workweek, the two leaders of the movement say that companies can be creative and innovative. Take a look at Flexjobs, the worlds biggest job board dedicated to remote and flexible work. And while the latest numbers available are from 2020, the data paints a picture of what a standard workweek might look like in countries from Italy to Iceland. Although the specifics remain undecided, the pilot, which is expected to launch in September and last three years, will use 50 million euros in European Union funding to compensate an estimated 200 companies for reducing their employees work week to 32 hourswithout cutting their salaries. These nations have lower overall happiness and lower levels of life satisfaction than countries with shorter work weeks, fewer safeguards for workers, or fewer facilities. This . Countries With The Lowest Wages Also Working The Most Participating companies had the option to choose a four-day work week and the press latched on. Yes, sort of. The shorter workweek will keep salaries the same for employees. Denmark follows with 32.5 working hours a week, and then Norway, with 33.6. All figures are annual except for unemployment figures, which are quarterly. Finland's Prime Minister called for the implementation of either four-day workweeks or six-hour workdays in August of 2019. Peter Cheese, chair of the governments Flexible Working Taskforce, said that a four-day workweek andflexible working arrangements can and should be seen as just as much an acceptable way of working as a more standard five-day working week. He added, These different forms of working should be seen as part of the norm. Worker well-being dramatically increased across a range of indicators, from perceived stress and burnout, to health and work-life balance. As the economy expands, these issues might be categorised as aches and pains. (Status: Partial), Does Finland Have A 4-Day Work Week? All workers there are entitled to fully paid vacation days, maternity and paternity leave. As might be expected, workplace laws and conventions in the countries with shorter typical workweeks are often more favorable towards workers than laws in countries with longer workweeks.. For employees, a four-day workweek lessens stress and stress-related afflictions, improves work/life balance and overall quality of life, and leads to greater satisfaction. The 40-hour week may still be right for your, Read More 4-Day Work Week: The Complete OverviewContinue, Does Finland have a 4-day work week? In most scenarios, this means that a bill would be proposed and voted on to change the legal definition of a full-time worker from five days to four. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); More generous overtime pay, more worker-friendly rules and maternity leave policies, and a higher possibility of making the list of the worlds happiest nations are all trends that these countries exhibit. Spain previously announced that it would experiment with a trial four-day workweek. But some countries have long worked fewer hours than others. Why are people talking about a 4-day work week in Finland? You've heard it before, and until it changes, you'll likely hear it again: Americans are workaholics. Could the same become true in the U.S.? Heres how we define the four-day work week policies you see in that column: Hi, I'm the founder of Buildremote. Who can say? This result illustrates what is arguably the greatest weakness of a four-day workweek: Certain industries or businesses have trouble absorbing the loss of hours even if productivity does not drop. In 2014, an OECD study found Germany to have the shortest working week in the world; a qualification that has done nothing to harm the nation's productivity, given that it was named the world's fourth most competitive nation, according to the Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2015-16. The idea of shrinking the workweek is also gaining traction, particularly in light of recent examples of workforces who have successfully trialed a reduced-hours' week. This Calculator Shows You How Much It Costs to Relocate to Another Country, 8 Best Places to Live in Mexico, According to Real Estate Experts, These Are the Countries With the Most Paid Vacations Days in the World, 8 Best Places to Live in Italy for a Better Quality of Life, The Best Time to Visit Spain for Great Weather and Famous Festivals, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? On January 01, 2022, the UAE began a short work week that is 4.5 days (36 hours) long, with flexible hours and work-from-home options on Fridays. Theyre followed by Denmark, whose average is 32.5 hours, and Norway, with 33.6. The decision was the culmination of a campaign promise made by the ruling Scottish National Party. Nearly 90% of the working population nowhave reduced hours or other accommodations. Iceland tested four-day, 35-36-hour weeks from 2015-2019 with more than 2,500 employees, or roughly 1% of the country's total workforce. Politics latest: Sadiq Khan says 14 times he's 'listening' on ULEZ Contrast that with South Africa where their employment level is only at 43 percent, with those that do work getting through an average of 43 hours work per week. If you want to compare that with how we get on in Britain, then those working in the Netherlands enjoy nearly eight hours more free time than we do, with the UK's average working week clocking in at 37 hours. In Norway the maximum work week is 40 hours by law, but for most sectors employers and unions agreed on 37.5 hours. "Learn more about Belgium's 4-day work week. To determine how long the average workweek is around the world, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed data on the average hours usually worked among dependent employees in 2018 from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Overall, the entire workforce averages around 29 hours a week -- the lowest of any industrialized nation, according to the OECD. << 4-Day Work Week: Complete Overview Interest in the four-day work week has grown drastically in the last few years first from individuals, then management teams, and now governments. This will mean savings on electricity and less traffic. Denmark, too, doesn't have formal rules for it but most people work only four days a week in the country. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on the typical number of hours worked per week among full-time employees in 37 mostly affluent nations from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Taxes 2020:When to file and what changes to expect, Barbie gets more diverse:Mattel unveils dolls with no hair, vitiligo. Here are the ten countries with the shortest working weeks, according to the OECD: The Netherlands, 29.5 hours Denmark, 32.5 hours Norway, 33.6 hours Switzerland, 34.6 hours Austria, 35.5 hours Belgium, 35.5 hours Italy, 35.5 hours Ireland, 35.6 hours Sweden, 36 hours Finland, 36.3 hours You can read the OECD's full ranking for yourself here. Other variants require 38 or 36 hours per week rather than 32. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); All rights reseverd 2023 - Buildremote LLC, 830 Orange Avenue Suite I, Coronado, CA 92118, 20 Countries With 4-Day Work Weeks (Trial, Proposal, Law), Every 4-Day Work Week Bill (FEB 1, 2023 UPDATE), Does Lithuania Have A 4-Day Work Week? Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. 2023 WorldPopulace.com | All rights reserved. Among fathers, about 12% also worked a shortened workweek. Staggered flexible hours and abbreviated workdays are also being tried out. Football news and gossip column: Jurgen Klopp says he has chosen Liverpools new captain following Jordan Hendersons departure 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. There was an improvement in work-life balance among the respondents. For more details, review our .chakra .wef-12jlgmc{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;font-weight:700;}.chakra .wef-12jlgmc:hover,.chakra .wef-12jlgmc[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-12jlgmc:focus,.chakra .wef-12jlgmc[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);}privacy policy. DESOL, a tech company that participated, has noted a 20% increase in sales and 20% decrease in absenteeism. Spare some sympathy for those working in Turkey and Colombia, too, who have the longest working weeks in the world of the countries included, averaging out at 48 hours per week. "Lithuania is the latest country to try out a four-day workweek, thanks to a policypassed by lawmakersyesterday (April 21). The rest of the states that landed on the top 10 worst states to live and work for 2023 were: Texas. The amount of time workers spend at the office every week depends a great deal on the industry in which they work. In addition to government-sponsored tests of four-day workweeks, many individual companies or municipalities have conducted tests of their own. A recent infographic from Bamboo HR taken from statistics by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has shown that the country enjoys the world's shortest working week for business professionals. Average Working Hours: Breakdown by Countries [2023 Update] - Everhour Blog Denmark . :Here are the countries with the most vacation days, Gallery:The most welcoming countries to expats, from Spain to Australia, Average workweek (full-time employees): 42.5 hours, Employees who worked over 50 hours/week: 7.1%, Average workweek (full-time employees): 42.7 hours, Employees who worked over 50 hours/week: 15.1%, Average workweek (full-time employees): 43.3 hours, Average workweek (full-time employees): 44.4 hours, Employees who worked over 50 hours/week: 15.5%, Average workweek (full-time employees): 45hours, Employees who worked over 50 hours/week: 18.1%, Average workweek (full-time employees): 45.7 hours, Employees who worked over 50 hours/week: 9.7%, Average workweek (full-time employees): 48.4 hours, Employees who worked over 50 hours/week: 32.6%, Average workweek (full-time employees): 48.5 hours, Employees who worked over 50 hours/week: 28.7%, Average workweek (full-time employees): 48.6 hours, Employees who worked over 50 hours/week: N/A, Average workweek (full-time employees): 49.8 hours, Employees who worked over 50 hours/week: 26.6%. (oil & gas, wind, hydropower). As a region, Europe has the most countries with the lowest working hours at 15. The project included 20 companies across Australia and New Zealand, covering industries ranging from marketing and finance to technology and mental health, and used the 100-80-100 model with the additional hope of improving climate impact via reduced consumption of energy and resources. Average Workweek by Country 2023 - World Population Review Another six-month trial featuring 38 companies from the US and Canada kicked off in April 2022. 152 countries have a shorter work week than Ireland 34 countries have a longer work week than Ireland It's anticipated that around 200 companies3,000 to 6,000 workerswill be involved with the project. As of late 2022, more than two-dozen countries are running test cases and pilot programs exploring the possibilities of a four-day workweek, and a handful of countries have officially introduced permanent four-day workweek options. The program will be funded by the SNP with a 10 million fund ($13.8 million U.S.). Because different cultures have different ideas about what constitutes work and who counts as a worker, as the Economic History Association points out, it may be difficult to compare the average number of hours people work each week. Join 100k+ people getting weekly alerts for 4 day week (32hr) jobs Built in public by Phil Sellframe Ltd 2023 Support the movement Business. Country profiles: OECD Countries with the shortest workweeks The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a group of 38 mostly European countries with a high quality of life that collectively comprised more than 60% of the global Gross Domestic Product in 2021. Additional data listed is all from the OECD and is for the most recent period available. Long workweeks are the norm in Singapore, but the country also boasts one of the worlds most free markets and a thriving economy. The move is part of the county's four-day work week pilot program that will analyze the productivity, public satisfaction and cost savings after the four-month trial concludes in April 2021.". American Travelers Will Need a 'Visa' for the EU in 2024Here's What to - Euronews, Countries with a 4 Day Work Week - 4DayWeek, Belgium Is The Latest Country To Join The Four-Day Workweek - Forbes, These Countries Have Introduced a Four-Day Week: Here's Where the US Stands - Wiki, A 4-day workweek: Is it productive or just counterintuitive - CEO World, 11 Countries That Only Have a 4-Day Work Week - Humans First, A 4-day workweek is the norm in Iceland. The results were so positive that Barnes embarked upon this campaign to get other companies to join him. These are the countries with the most vacation time, Mattel unveils dolls with no hair, vitiligo, These are the wealthy countries you dont want to work abroad in, These 15 countries have the widest gaps between rich and poor, These are the 25 richest countries in the world, Here are the countries with the most vacation days, The most welcoming countries to expats, from Spain to Australia, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Finland does not have a four-day work week. Between 2015 to 2019, Iceland conducted test cases of a 35-to-36-hour workweek without any calls for a commensurate cut in pay. Some work 40 hours over four days, while others work 32 hours. This Country Has the Shortest Workweek Here's How It Compares - MSN Search for 4-day work week jobs on Flexjobs. "Progressives in Congress are lining up behind a bill that would shrink a regular week of work from 40 hours to 32 bringing the four-day work week to America. Although unemployment in the Netherlands is very low, the country is actively recruiting people in many of the same professions, focusing on civil engineers and information technology specialists. Dj vu! "The countrys annual economic policy guidelines, released this month, unveiled plans to push employers to adopt four-day workweeks, marking official acceptance of a once-fringe approach"Learn more about Japan's 4-day week recommendation. Microsoft Japan ran a trial of a shorter workweek program, called Work-Life Choice Challenge 2019 Summer. The company gave its 2,300 employees the opportunity to choose a variety of flexible work styles, according to the circumstances of work and life. The goal of management was to see if there would be a corresponding increase in productivity and morale when hours are cut down. The trial begins in July and will run through the end of the year. Australia conducted a pilot four-day-week project from August 2022 to January 2023. World Bank says that Cambodias employment rate of 80% is greater than the norm for East Asian nations (63 per cent). The Netherlands Has The World's Shortest Working Week Simon Catling Published 13:14, 28 February 2021 GMT | Last updated 13:14, 28 February 2021 GMT Featured Image Credit: Pexels Unhappy at. Evie Carrick is a writer and editor whos lived in five countries and visited well over 50. However, trends may be seen if enough data is gathered and examined. While four-day weeks have yet to be officially implemented by Ireland's government, they are the subject of much discussion. The top 10 countries in the world with the shortest workweeks (in hours OCED 2020 data) Denmark 25.9; Norway 26.3; Germany 25.6; Netherlands 26.9; . Here's why, Dominic King, Ana Clara Gimenez, Andrea Moore and Catalina Mainardi, Q&A with Ibrahim Al-Zu'bi: The rise of the Chief Sustainability Officer and why it matters, Why fintech products are the future of benefits and compensation, is affecting economies, industries and global issues, with our crowdsourced digital platform to deliver impact at scale. As might be expected, workplace laws and conventions in the countries with shorter typical workweeks are often more favorable towards workers than laws in countries with longer workweeks. One study found that a whopping 48% of Americans consider themselves workaholics. Iceland:Between 2014 and 2021, Iceland ran a well-publicized trial of a 35-36-hour work week sponsored by the federal government. Its purpose, however, was to measure the impact in a reduction of work hours not to measure the effectiveness of a four-day work week.
