Japan and South Korea Test Four-Day Workweeks, While China and Greece Extend Hours Amid Global Workweek Shift

Global Workweek Trends: Japan and South Korea Experiment with Four-Day Workweeks, While China and Greece Extend Hours

In recent years, the concept of a four-day workweek has gained traction globally as countries and companies seek to balance productivity with employee well-being. Japan and South Korea are among the latest to explore this approach, while China and Greece have opted for increased working hours, reflecting diverse responses to economic and societal pressures.

Japan's Push for a Four-Day Workweek

Japan, traditionally known for its demanding work culture, is taking significant steps to introduce a four-day workweek as a solution to its labor shortages and to enhance the work-life balance of its employees. The Japanese government has been advocating for this change since 2021, though the transition has been slow, with only about 8% of companies currently offering three or more days off per week.

To accelerate adoption, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the government is providing free consulting services, financial grants, and promoting success stories of companies that have successfully implemented shorter workweeks. Despite these efforts, several barriers remain. Cultural norms in Japan, including a strong sense of duty to colleagues and a tendency for unreported overtime, pose significant challenges to reducing working hours.

Advocates argue that a four-day workweek could help address Japan’s declining birth rate and aging population by making it easier for workers to balance professional responsibilities with personal needs, such as family care or pursuing additional income. However, concerns have been raised about potential reductions in pay, with employees possibly working just as hard in fewer days. Nevertheless, some companies are beginning to embrace flexible work schedules, particularly in industries with a higher proportion of female employees, signaling a potential shift in Japan's traditional work culture.

South Korea's Growing Interest in Shorter Workweeks

While South Korea has not officially adopted a nationwide four-day workweek, there is growing interest and experimentation among businesses. Companies like POSCO, a leading steelmaker, have implemented biweekly four-day workweeks for office staff, and major firms such as SK hynix and Samsung Electronics have introduced similar flexible working arrangements. Despite these developments, there is no broad government mandate for a four-day workweek, and the concept remains in its experimental stages.

Global Developments in Four-Day Workweeks

Several other countries have also explored or implemented four-day workweek trials with varying degrees of success. The United Kingdom conducted one of the largest trials, involving 61 companies and over 2,900 workers. The results were overwhelmingly positive, with 92% of the participating companies deciding to adopt the four-day workweek permanently.

In Spain, a 32-hour workweek pilot program launched in 2021 demonstrated improvements in employee well-being and productivity. Germany also joined the trend, with over 45 companies participating in a six-month trial that began in early 2024. Iceland, a pioneer in this area, conducted successful trials between 2015 and 2019, leading to widespread adoption of shorter workweeks across the country.

Other countries like New Zealand and Portugal have also experimented with four-day workweeks, with Portugal launching a six-month trial in mid-2024 and Brazil initiating its first trial in September 2023, marking the start of similar experiments in Latin America.

China and Greece Opt for Longer Workweeks

In contrast to the global trend towards shorter workweeks, China and Greece have moved in the opposite direction by increasing working hours. In China, the average weekly working hours reached 49 hours in early 2024, up from previous years, driven by economic pressures. Although there was a slight decrease to 48.6 hours by mid-2024, the overall trend suggests that companies are pushing for greater productivity in response to slower economic growth.

Meanwhile, Greece introduced a law in July 2024 allowing certain businesses to implement a six-day workweek. This regulation permits employees in specific industries, particularly those operating 24/7 or facing high workloads, to work up to 48 hours a week, with the extra day being compensated with 40% overtime pay. The Greek government has framed this measure as an exceptional step to address labor shortages and reduce undeclared work, though it has sparked controversy and protests from labor unions concerned about its impact on workers' rights and work-life balance.

Conclusion

The global landscape of workweeks is increasingly diverse, with countries experimenting with different models to address their unique economic and social challenges. While Japan and South Korea explore the potential benefits of a four-day workweek, China and Greece are extending work hours to meet economic demands. These developments highlight the varying approaches nations are taking in the ongoing redefinition of work-life balance and productivity.