Europe | Portugal | Business
Portugal takes the leap and launches a 4-day workweek field trial
Balancing Employee Well-being and Economic Viability
A reflection inspired by Kathrin Glösel’s article “4 tage arbeit — 3 tage frei”
Introduction.
Portugal has embarked on a groundbreaking experiment with the launch of a pilot trial for a 4-day workweek. Thirty-nine companies from diverse sectors, including manufacturing, retail, and non-profits, are participating in the trial, aiming to measure the impact on both employees’ well-being and the economic performance of companies.
The 100–80–100 Model: A Unique Approach.
The participating companies have committed to reducing weekly working hours while ensuring full pay for employees. The innovative 100–80–100 model is employed, where employees receive 100% of their pay for working 80% of the time and performing at 100% capacity. This approach seeks to strike a balance between employee satisfaction and maintaining productivity.
Voluntary Participation Signals Willingness to Experiment.
A notable aspect of the trial is that companies have volunteered for the program without financial…
