Four-day week in Germany? New field study

The four-day week continues to be hotly debated—but without much empirical evidence to back it up. In fact, this working time model has rarely been tested. In Germany, a six-month field study is now to be conducted to test the success and usefulness of reducing working hours. The study is being organized by the Berlin-based company Intraprenör in cooperation with the international NGO Four Day Week Global. The latter was already responsible for a similar trial in the UK at the beginning of the year, which yielded consistently positive results: 56 of the 61 participating companies subsequently planned to retain the four-day week, and sales rose by an average of 1.4% during the trial period. However, this was criticized because the companies had voluntarily applied to participate in the study and no random, representative selection had taken place. The process is now similar in the German study: around 50 companies are being sought to participate. In return, they will be given access to experts, exchanges with other employers, and the opportunity to test new methods. At the same time, the federal managing director of the German Association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses warns that reduced working hours could lead to productivity losses, which would ultimately affect everyone. How realistic this prediction is will soon become clear.

This week, we were interested in the following topics:

• Digitalization: For employees, additional digital resources and solutions are not a curse but a blessing, according to the managing director of sysmat GmbH. Advancing automation will not replace humans, but rather promote cooperation between humans and machines.

• Education: Fewer and fewer young adults in Germany have obtained a traditional vocational qualification, according to a study by the OECD. While 51% of 25- to 34-year-olds had such a qualification in 2015, the figure is now only 38%. This is the sharpest decline among all OECD countries. The reasons for this are known to the Tagesschau.

• Pensions: Less than 1,500 euros: More than nine million of those currently employed full-time in Germany will be affected by such a low pension, according to a survey by the Ministry of Labor. In the eastern German states, the majority will even face a pension of less than 1,300 euros. The Left Party in particular is now criticizing the fact that the risk of poverty in old age will increase.

• US strike: There are more strikes taking place in the US. Now the three car brands GW, Chrysler, and Ford are also being struck at the same time – for the first time in the history of the UAW union. If the strike is extended, it could lead to a historically large labor dispute. The SZ analyzes the details and reasons.

• New Work: The world of work is being revolutionized by AI, home offices, and greater flexibility in general. The SZ discussed with representatives of digital companies how to stay on track in this new world of work shaped by digitalization.

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