Greece Introduced A Six-Day Work Week. Will This Become A Global Trend?

Study after study comes to the same conclusion: shorter work weeks keep workers happy and boost productivity.

But the Greek government isn’t convinced—so much so that it recently passed a law letting companies add a voluntary six-day work week to stimulate economic growth.

So, why are they bucking the worldwide trend of reducing work hours?

Let’s explore the details of Greece’s controversial new law and see if other countries will follow suit.

Greece’s Six-Day Work Week Law Explained

Law 5053/2023 lets some companies, especially those offering 24/7 services, add an extra work day for their employees.

It’s completely voluntary for companies to include this in their scheduling. But if an employer decides to do it, they have to apply it to every worker. They also need to pay employees 40% more for that day, which gives them some incentive to work extra hours.

However, the law also has some restrictions to keep companies from taking advantage.

They have to give you a 24-hour notice before any new shift begins and cap daily working hours at 13 if you have another part-time job.

Why Is Greece Doing This?

Greece’s decision to introduce a six-day work week is the latest attempt to boost their economy.

The country was one of the worst hit during the 2008 economic crisis, and it’s still trying to get back on its feet over a decade later. Wages are roughly a third lower than before the crisis, and many high-skilled workers are taking advantage of their Schengen passports to find better opportunities elsewhere.

The government hopes to strengthen the Greek economy by increasing the number of working days and encouraging high-skilled workers to stay.

How This New Law Impacts Greek Workers

A six-day workweek has its pros and cons for Greek workers.

On the one hand, making more money can give some Greeks the financial lifeline they need.

But a higher salary doesn’t translate into a better life. Many opponents are concerned about worker well-being and how this law might impact their work-life balance. This new work style could quickly lead to burnout, increase mental health issues, and force Greek workers to work more without seeing any significant benefits.

Is A Six-Day Work Week Really More Productive?

In the eyes of the Greek government, a six-day workweek is the best way to boost productivity.

But that theory couldn’t be further from the truth.

Let’s take Japan, for example. It’s common to hear about salaried workers working 60 to 80 hours per week. Yet, despite all the overtime and extra hours, their productivity is among the lowest in the OECD.

Overwork can lead to a miserable workforce, lower output, and less efficiency. Why does something immediately if you’ll be in the office for 10 hours anyway?

After a while, burnout could lead to higher healthcare costs and absenteeism, which ultimately defeats the purpose of longer work weeks.

Are Other Countries Following Suit?

Even if the Greek government does this, most countries are going in the opposite direction.

Many either have companies offering four-day work weeks or pilot programs in place, including:

Belgium
Spain
Austria
Brazil
Australia
UK
UAE
US

So far, these programs have seen employees have a better quality of life and are more productive.

As more positive research emerges, four days could become the new norm for most workers.

Will A Six-Day Work Week Become The Norm?

While a six-day work week might help the Greek economy handle its economic situation better, it definitely bucks the work-life balance trend we’ve seen in recent years.

There could be a chance that Greece’s experiment proves successful in boosting economic growth without significantly affecting workers’ health. If this happens, other companies or countries in a similar situation might follow the Greek model.

But you don’t need to worry about working 50+ hours a week for now. Flexible work schedules and shorter workdays are working, so expect that to continue being the norm as time goes on.