Prime Minister Sanna Marin wants a shorter work week to pilot without prejudice in Finland. Some experiments show that shorter working hours get people to do the same, or even more work, says Marin.

Social Democrat member and co-chair of the Riksdag Matias Mäkynen proposed that Finland conduct an extensive trial run of a four-day working week during the upcoming election period. The idea is that employees get the same salary and at the same time more free time.

Such an experiment in the UK is said to have been so successful that over 90 per cent of companies chose to continue reducing the working day after the experiment ended, YLE wrote.

E24 wrote in January about a international efforts which should also work.

According to the organization, participating companies should report increased income and improved employee health and well-being.

Marines have long been positively discharged to reduced working hours.

– People feel better, fewer sick absences and increased productivity. In less time, you have the same amount of work, or even more, he told YLE.

– The results of various surveys are always encouraging. And of course, even in Finland we have to be open to this kind of effort.

– As productivity increases and societal wealth grows, some goes to employees, for example in the form of reduced working hours.

Marin claims that fewer hours can be an alternative for many different industries. He also mentions similar efforts in Sweden. Now it’s Finland’s turn.

– We are open and want the trials to be carried out in Finland too, without prejudice.

But Marin did not say whether people in industries unsuited for such a solution should also accept a 25 percent increase in hourly wages.

Some are using climate change as an argument for introducing a four-day work week. Professor David Spencer at the University of Leeds told VG in 2020:

– Reducing working hours will help break our dominant work cycle and produce more to buy/consume more. If we work less, we find other ways to enjoy life besides increasing production and consumption. This will be positive for a climate with lower consumption.

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