After Finland & NZ, India Considers 4-Day Work Week But With 12-Hour Work Days

In August 2019, Microsoft Japan executed a striking experiment on its employees. They rolled out a 4-day work week policy, giving their employees a 3-day weekend! It was found that productivity increased by a whopping 40% and more than 90% of the employees said they were happier.

Following this, Finland’s and New Zealand’s Prime Ministers proposed a 4-day work week and as the news made headlines, we thought, yeh policy India mein kab ayega?

But now, as it seems, we don’t have to wait for much longer. According to a report by Business Insider, India is considering a 4-day work week. However, there is another side to the story.

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Our working-hours limit is 48-hours a week. Hence, employees who show up at the office 6 days a week have to work 8 hours a day. Similarly, those who have a 5-day work week, work for 9-10 hours a day.

With the new 4-day work week that’s being considered, the 48-hours policy remains the same. This means, if we were to work 4 days a week, we’ll end up working for 12 hours per day.

“There is no final word as yet. Once the rules are formulated, things will become more clear. The Ministry wishes to assure that establishments will not be able to exploit their employees at any cost,” said Apurva Chandra, Labour and Employment Secretary.

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The policy, once formulated and rolled out, will have to be mutually agreed upon by both employer and employee. Ideally, a company will have to adopt a policy which is appropriate for its employees.

While the longer working hours seem like a buzzkill, an earlier report by The Indian Express shows some of the policy’s brighter sides. A 4-day work week may prevent mass layoffs and salary cuts, thereby securing jobs. It also reduces the burden on employers as it reduces expenses like office rent and electricity bills.

According to BI, a World Economic Forum survey showed that the companies which had implemented the 4-day work week policy had a 2% turnover each year.

This news, however, didn’t go down well with several people online. Many took to Twitter to express how a 12-hour work day could decrease productivity and increase stress.

Do you think this 4-day work week policy will help boost productivity and help maintain a work-life balance for employees? Tell us!

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