Greece’s decision to introduce a six-day workweek has been met with widespread criticism, described as ‘barbaric’ by many. This move comes at a time when numerous countries are experimenting with shorter, four-day workweeks, aiming to improve employee well-being and productivity. Akis Sotiropoulos, an executive committee member of the Greek civil servants’ union ADEDY, commented on the stark contrast: ‘When almost every other civilised country is enacting a four-day week, Greece decides to go the other way.’
The decision follows a successful six-month pilot program in the UK where 61 companies reduced working hours to 80% while maintaining salaries. Over 2,900 employees participated, with 92% extending the four-day week trial and 18 making it permanent. A 2023 report highlighted the extensive benefits of this model on worker well-being.
However, Greece is enacting a law allowing a 48-hour workweek, starting on July 1st. This applies only to private businesses providing round-the-clock services, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis justifies the decision as a response to a shrinking population and a shortage of skilled workers.
The move has been met with strong opposition from unions. It seems the lessons learned about work-life balance during the pandemic are being forgotten. LinkedIn research found that 49% of companies prefer employees to work more from the office, with 10% planning to force a return due to ‘productivity paranoia.’
Molly Johnson-Jones, co-founder and CEO of Flexa, a platform promoting flexible working roles, argues that companies and countries should stop obsessing over physical office presence. She emphasizes, ‘The four-day week trial taught us that 32-hour weeks can be as productive as 40-hour weeks. Yet companies and countries alike continue to obsess over the number of days and hours that staff spend at their desks as a measure of output.’
Johnson-Jones believes that employee autonomy is key to improving output, not forcing them to work longer hours. ‘If people want to work more days – whether that be five days instead of four, or six days instead of five – they should be able to choose roles that enable them to do so. This is not the same as companies enforcing strict “return to office” mandates and going back on flexible working policies.’
Experts are doubtful the UK will follow Greece’s example. Molly Johnson-Jones believes that most UK workers would resist a six-day workweek. Sophie Wardell, people director and HR expert at Higgs LLP, agrees, noting the longevity of the five-day workweek dating back to the 19th century. She expects the UK government to focus on initiatives like the four-day working week instead.
However, Wardell acknowledges the concerning nature of Greece’s move. ‘Time away from work is crucial to reduce burnout and stress,’ she states. ‘As such, moving in the opposite direction of increasing working hours would increase stress-related health issues, physical health concerns, and a strain on family relationships.’
Greece already has the longest average working hours in Europe, with workers averaging 41 hours per week, according to Eurostat. Experts emphasize that increasing working hours could be counterproductive, particularly in light of research focusing on employee well-being.
Remote working has been a positive step towards human-centric and output-focused thinking in the workplace. Prime Minister Mitsotakis’s policy undermines these benefits.
