Some European countries are actively implementing a four-day working week.
And this has a positive impact on employee productivity, as more and more people seek a balance between work and personal life.
Read our article to find out whether a 4-day work week will be introduced in Ukraine.
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Can Ukraine switch to a 4-day workweek during martial law?
The State Employment Service explained whether Ukraine could switch to a 4-day work week.
They emphasize that it is not very appropriate to talk about Ukraine's transition to a four-day work week during the war. Now the majority of Ukrainians are either at the front or working for the needs of the army.
The labor market also adapted to military conditions – they accepted Law on the organization of labor relations during martial law. Holidays are considered regular working days, without additional pay or rest.
Employers can require workers to work on weekends without the consent of the trade union. The maximum working week has been increased to 60 hours instead of the usual 40.
4-day work week in peacetime
However, in peacetime, the introduction of a 4-day work week in Ukraine is possible.
Already, countries such as Iceland, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, Spain, France, Lithuania, Japan and the UAE are experimenting with a short working week in certain industries.
Poland has also recently launched an experiment where employers can offer workers alternative models of reduced working hours.
According to the State Employment Service, Iceland is the leader in the transition to a shorter working week. There, up to 90% of workers already work on such a schedule or have other concessions.
In Germany, after a six-month pilot, 60% of companies have implemented a four-day workweek for most employees. In Belgium, they have allowed 4 days of 10 hours to be worked.
Working week in Ukraine: what is fixed in the law
In Ukraine, a four-day work week is not officially provided for.
The Labor Code sets 40 hours per week as the norm.
Reduction is possible only for minors, people with disabilities or by agreement with the employer. During martial law, the working week for some critical facilities can be up to 60 hours.
— Currently, there are no legislative initiatives in the country to reduce the length of the working week, however, the vacancies available in the Service from employers are differentiated by working hours.
There are jobs that offer a 5-day work week, part-time or irregular working hours, summarized working hours, shift work, with the work day divided into parts and at night, explained the deputy head of the department for work with employers of the State Employment Service, Evgeniya Podlesnaya.
In Ukraine in 2019, the IT company Brighta tried to implement a four-day week.
Initially, the results were positive, as employees became happier and burnout decreased. But then productivity dropped in some areas, and the company reconsidered its approach.
This is not surprising, since many countries and companies that have implemented four working days note that, although workers feel better and are less stressed, productivity often falls, especially when paid hourly.
Currently, the EIAS (Unified Information and Analytical System) database contains information from employers regarding 876 available part-time vacancies throughout the country.
— All of them are of different fields, in particular doctors, social workers, teachers, cleaners, practical psychologists, educators, drivers, packers, postmen and others. The level of remuneration in such vacancies fluctuates from the minimum to 60 thousand UAH, — said Evgeniya Podlesnaya.
Currently, a four-day workweek is best suited for IT, creative and analytical professions, as well as areas with pay for results.
Least suitable for services, manufacturing, agriculture and hourly jobs.
In Ukraine, a shortened work week is currently only possible through local agreements with employers.
