Valencia workers will be testing all this April what their life and business would be like if they implemented a four-day working day at their company. The pilot project promoted by City Council Joan Ribó aims to analyze the impact of 32 hours a week on the economy, health and welfare of the population, as well as the impact on the environment.
The initiative was rejected by merchants when it was proposed a few months ago, but the City Council decided to continue studying its impact on the public, although results won’t be known until July. The mayor assures that this is not a matter of reducing working hours – a matter for which social agents are responsible – but that this is “a test, an experience that will benefit both society and workers.”
April was chosen for this test considering that Monday, April 10, 17 and 24, and May 1 are holidays in the capital, something that partially distorted the initiative because it was not carried out in real conditions. Businesses in the city will be closed for the holiday and many residents may leave the city to take advantage of the longer weekend.
The Generalitat offered public assistance to carry it out but only three companies were able to do so because of the harsh requirements.
“We do things that directly benefit society, many of which are organizational issues, community organizations,” says Ribó. According to him, a trend in this direction is taking place at the European level and he cited the examples of other countries that are promoting reduced working hours, such as Germany or the UK, with success.
Thus, of the 71 companies that changed their working hours in the UK last June to one in four days a week without compromising wages – the biggest pilot test that has been carried out so far in the world – 61 have extended it and, of those, 18 have made it permanent. . The results revealed a significant reduction in stress and illness rates among the 3,300 workers who were part of the project. Seven out of ten said they were less tired and 40% less stressed.
Back in Spain, many private companies have implemented this system, with or without a reduction in wages. In the Valencian Community, Consell launched a public call for help for companies implementing these types of conferences, but the stringent requirements meant only three successfully implemented them. Therefore, this week has released a new call that is expected to be even more successful.
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