On Labor Day this Monday, IG Metall boss Jörg Hofmann once again called for the four-day week for workers in industry. “First of all, we need the four-day week for jobs where home office is not possible, such as on construction sites. And for shift work,” said the union leader of the “Bild am Sonntag”.
“In the metal and electrical industry, the weekly working time is 35 hours. In the steel industry, the shifters only work 33.6 hours a week and then have to work 13 additional shifts over the year to make up the weekly working time.” So the jump to a 32-hour week on four days is not very big. In addition, the four-day week increases productivity and job satisfaction.
According to Hofmann, this working time model would not be an additional challenge for the shortage of skilled workers prevailing in Germany. Because the volume of work can even be increased as a result. Because with a four-day week with 32 hours of work, “many more women would be willing to return full-time because this model also works with families.”
Employers critical: “milkmaid bill”
The Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) sees things completely differently. “Significantly less work with full wage compensation – economically that’s a milkmaid’s calculation,” said the managing director Steffen Kampeter of the “Bild am Sonntag”. “We will only be able to finance our welfare state and climate protection in the long term if we are more willing to work and innovate.” Kampeter, on the other hand, was open to four-day weeks with the same number of hours. “If it’s possible to spread 39 hours a week over four days – that’s fine too. We strongly advocate making working time legislation more flexible.”
There was also criticism from FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr: “In view of the blatant shortage of skilled workers, the proposal for a four-day week is incomprehensible. Shorter working hours would not strengthen Germany’s competitiveness, but damage it,” he told the Funke media group. In addition, the assumption that people work more productively with a four-day week cannot be transferred to many areas. “For example, in health care or childcare, it is necessary for employees to be on site. Working hours cannot be offset,” says Dürr.
There is encouragement for a four-day week from SPD federal leader Saskia Esken. “I can well imagine that we can achieve good results with a four-day week,” she told the editorial network Germany (RND). “There are studies that show that people work more effectively in a week reduced to four working days because they have higher job satisfaction. Because they have more private lives.” Parents in particular need other, more flexible and shorter working hours in order to be able to better organize their family obligations and needs. You need wage compensation for that.
