At a time when major European economies are discussing the establishment of a four-day working day, Greece is increasing the number of days, reaching 6 per week.

Part of the international press dealt extensively with the measure, examining to what extent it can be effective in the country which, as they say, its motto is “slowly – slowly”.

Initially the Guardian characterizes the step as “unorthodox” and “barbaric”, in its report entitled “Greece introduces six-day work week with a focus on development”.

He points out, however, that Greece which was once “at the center of the continent’s worst financial crisis has reversed the trend again, introducing a 48-hour work week. The measure, described as “barbaric” by the unions, comes into force from Monday.

In fact, on the same issue, the opinions of trade unionists are hosted, such as that of Akis Sotiropoulos from ADEDY, who opposes the measure, stressing: “When almost every other civilized country adopts a four-day week, Greece decides to go the other way.”

Reference is also made to government policy, given the immigration of around 500,000 new qualified and graduates since 2009 when the economic crisis broke out in the country. A fact that, as it is estimated, played a decisive factor for the K. Mitsotakis government, which takes the measure due to the double risks of the shrinking population and the lack of skilled workers.

Where will the measure apply?

The six-day program will only apply to private businesses that provide 24-hour services. As part of the extended working week, staff in selected sectors of the industry will be allowed to work an extra 2 hours a day or an extra 8 hour shift, with an additional 40% pay added to the daily wage.

“Either option, the centre-right government argues, will solve the issue of workers not being paid for overtime while also tackling the pervasive problem of undeclared work. The core of this legislation is worker-friendly, it is deeply development-oriented,” Mitsotakis said before the Greek parliament approved the law. “And it brings Greece in line with the rest of Europe.”

But the reactions were strong. In a country that has almost no tradition of workplace inspectionscritics argue that the reform ultimately sounds the death knell of the five-day workweek, primarily because it allows employers to dictate whether a sixth workday is required.

For opponents, who have already taken to the streets in protest, the reform erodes legal protections and undoes workers’ long-held rights in the name of flexibility, the same article also noted.

On the other side – examples of countries with 4 working days

The Guardian also cites evidence from tried-and-tested four-day-a-week programs that have repeatedly shown increased productivity levels.

Belgium in 2022 introduced legislation to give workers the legal right to spread their working week over four days instead of five, and pilot programs have been carried out in countries such as the UK, Germany, Japan, South Africa and Canada.

Greeks already work the longest hours in Europe, averaging 41 hours a week according to the EU statistics agency Eurostat, and surveys have also shown that they are paid far less. The left-wing opposition has often criticized “Bulgarian wages in a country of British prices”, arguing that the phenomenon has only exacerbated the brain drain.

“What the government is basically saying is ‘go and work more, we’ll turn a blind eye even if you’re retired,'” said Grigoris Kalomiris, head of the retired teachers’ union.

“He knows that the majority of Greeks, with an average monthly salary of 900 euros, can only survive until the 20th of the month. This latest barbaric measure is not going to solve the fundamental problem of labor shortages and many of us believe it is very unfair to unemployed young Greeks who may never have a job.”

Step back

CNBC speaks of a “significant step backwards”, which in its article hosts the opinion of Giorgos Katsampekis, a lecturer in European and international politics at Loughborough University in Britain. He said the regulation is being introduced to a workforce that already works the longest hours in the European Union.

Workers in Greece work longer than those in the US, Japan and others in the EU, according to data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Greek workers were found to have worked an average of 1,886 hours in 2022, more than the US average of 1,811 and the EU average of 1,571.

“Greeks already work the most hours per week in Europe. Now they may be forced to work for a sixth day, after this Greek one [κυβερνητική] decision,” said John O’Brennan, a professor of EU law at Maynooth University in Ireland. “It’s ridiculous, it opposes the transition to four-day weeks in most civilized countries,” he added.

At the same time, the article cites evidence from a survey in which all managers and CEOs of the companies that took part in the trial said that a four-day work week had a positive effect on their organization, with more than half describing the impact as “very positive”.

How will the measure benefit the country?

Doubts as to whether the six-day work can be effective in the country that has a motto of “slow, slow” are expressed in the relevant article of Businesseinsider.

The report says that in the country famous for its relaxed pace of life, culture, history and clear Mediterranean waters, it will be harder for some workers to embrace the philosophy of the six-day work week.

The Greek government says a move to a 48-hour work week could boost productivity amid a shrinking population and a shortage of skilled workers. The change is serious because it goes against companies and countries experimenting with a four-day work week.

Working longer hours can help people further improve their skills, but it can also lead to reduced productivity due to fatigue and burnout, research shows, the report notes.

The extra hours will be accompanied by a 40% increase in wages for Greek workers who add two hours to their day or work an extra eight hours. Even with the increase in overtime pay, some union employees resent the shift.

Examples of increased working hours

Another study looked at the output of more than 10,000 skilled workers at a large technology company in India who work from home. When the hour went up — including an 18 percent jump outside of regular work hours — output fell and productivity fell between 8 percent and 19 percent. The biggest culprit: more time for communication and coordination and less time for uninterrupted work.

Research shows that employees often benefit from time away from work to recuperate.

Basis Technologies, an advertising software company, shifted its work week to four and a half days after years of experimenting with the four-day work week and other approaches. For 2024, he settled for making Fridays a half day.

Emily Barron, the company’s executive vice president of talent and development, previously told BI that the company was looking for ways to give employees more time to decompress while still meeting the needs of the business. For now, the half-day approach is best, he concluded.