The traditional five-day workweek in Switzerland is being increasingly questioned, as companies introduce a four-day workweek with the same salary to motivate their employees. In contrast, Greece recently changed its laws to allow some workers to opt for a six-day workweek to address a shortage of skilled workers. This raises the question of whether such measures could be relevant for Switzerland.
While Swiss labor law defines the workload in hours per week and only requires a permit for Sunday work, Saturday is considered a regular working day. However, unlike Greece where a legal adjustment was required to allow for a six-day workweek, there were no legal barriers in Switzerland to working on Saturdays. Swiss employers’ association is not advocating for a return to widespread Saturday work as other measures like better integrating mothers and pensioners into the labor market are seen as more effective in addressing the shortage of skilled workers.
The concept of the five-day workweek originated in the American industrial sector in the early 20th century, with pioneers like Henry Ford promoting the idea. In Switzerland, the transition to a five-day workweek was gradual, with many companies maintaining a six-day workweek well into the mid-20th century. However, increasing wages and growing desire for more leisure time eventually led to acceptance of the five-day workweek in Switzerland.
In recent years, flexibility in work schedules has become more common with many workers opting for part-time arrangements. While some industries see an increase in Saturday work due to shortages of skilled workers, others are moving towards more flexible working time models like four-day or even three-day weeks. As such, it seems that the concept of the traditional five-day workweek continues to evolve in response to changing economic and social dynamics.
Overall, while there may not be any immediate changes coming from this trend towards shorter weeks and more flexible working arrangements, it is clear that traditional scheduling practices are becoming less rigid and more adaptable as society continues to change and grow over time.
In conclusion, while Greece’s decision may seem extreme compared to Switzerland’s relatively conservative approach when it comes to changing labor laws related