„I cannot reword“

100-80-100 – ist das das Modell der Zukunft? Dieser Frage geht in Deutschland bald ein Pilotprojekt nach, ab Donnerstag können sich Arbeitgeber für die Teilnahme bewerben. 100 Prozent Leistung in 80 Prozent der Zeit bei 100 Prozent Bezahlung – kurzum: eine Viertagewoche – soll dabei über sechs Monate erprobt und die Umstellung wissenschaftlich ausgewertet werden. »Wir erhoffen uns, die Debatte über die Viertagewoche auf ein neues Niveau zu heben – mit wissenschaftlicher Unterstützung«, sagt dazu Unternehmensberater Jan Bühren von Intraprenör.

The company based in Berlin is collaborating with the organization Four Day Week Global to organize the project in Germany. The non-governmental organization has already initiated similar studies in other countries, including a highly regarded project in Great Britain. „We are bothered by the fact that the entire discussion is happening in a vacuum – because everything is only discussed in theory, but not put into practice,“ says Bühren. This is now set to change in Germany.

Viertagewoche ist nicht gleich Viertagewoche

The pilot project explicitly focuses on a four-day workweek, where the working hours are reduced while maintaining the same salary and expected performance. Other models, for example, propose that less working hours also result in lower wages. In addition, some smaller companies are experimenting with a concept where employees work slightly more on four days and then compensate for the extra hours on the fifth day by taking time off.

The most discussed option, however, is the first one, which involves less working hours with the same pay. This is also the goal of IG Metall when they demand a four-day workweek in the upcoming wage negotiations in the iron and steel industry. The idea behind it is that someone who only has to work four days a week is more focused and motivated – and can still successfully meet their targets in less time.

Große Zustimmung

A recent study conducted by the Hans-Böckler Foundation, which is closely associated with labor unions, found that a four-day workweek is a popular idea among employees – at least when it comes with the same pay. According to the foundation’s survey, over 73 percent of respondents expressed a desire for a four-day workweek with a corresponding reduction in working hours. Approximately 8 percent also wished for this arrangement with reduced pay. On the other hand, 17 percent rejected the idea of a four-day workweek altogether. When asked about their reasons, the most commonly cited response (96.5 percent) was „because I want more time for myself.“ This was followed by „because I want more time for my family“ (89 percent).

Jene Befragten, die die Viertagewoche ablehnten, sagten besonders häufig, dass sie Spaß an der Arbeit hätten (86 Prozent). 82 Prozent zeigten sich skeptisch, dass eine Arbeitszeitverkürzung etwas an den Arbeitsabläufen ändern würde. Rund 77 Prozent gehen davon aus, dass sie die Arbeit dann nicht mehr schaffen würden.

The middle class, on the other hand, is more skeptical about the four-day workweek. Christoph Ahlhaus, Federal Managing Director of the Federal Association of Medium-Sized Enterprises, said that individual solutions between employees and employers should be favored. However, the middle class rejects government intervention that proposes reduced working hours with full wage compensation because it believes that productivity losses would occur, which would first affect companies and then all of us. He considers it unlikely that a significant number of members would introduce a „state-mandated four-day workweek“ given the shortage of skilled workers.

Erfolgreicher Test in Großbritannien

After the four-day week project in the UK, the majority of participating companies had a very positive outcome. 56 out of 61 employers stated that they want to continue with the four-day week. According to the analysis, sick days decreased by around two-thirds (65 percent) during the testing period, and the number of employees leaving the company during this time decreased by more than half (57 percent). On average, the revenue of the participating companies increased by 1.4 percent during the testing phase. Researchers from Boston and Cambridge conducted the analysis and also conducted in-depth interviews with participants.