Germany
In total 45 companies took part in a 4 day work week pilot
Germany's 4-Day Workweek Pilot
Germany has successfully completed its first-ever 4-day workweek pilot, a groundbreaking collaboration between 4 Day Week Global, Intraprenör, and the University of Münster. The pilot aimed to assess the impact of a reduced workweek on productivity, employee well-being, and work-life balance across a diverse range of industries.
Starting in September 2023, 41 organizations fully implemented the 4-day workweek model, while some exited the trial due to economic or operational challenges.
The trial spanned 6 months, and the final results have revealed significant outcomes.
Key Highlights of the Trial Results
The Germany 4-day workweek pilot revealed transformative impacts across both organizational and employee domains.
Below are the major outcomes:
Organizational Findings
- Small business engagement: 54% of participating organizations were small businesses with 10–49 employees, showcasing high interest among smaller enterprises.
- Diverse representation: The trial included organizations from 13 different industries, ensuring comprehensive insights across sectors.
- Wide inclusion: 60% of organizations applied the 4-day workweek to 90–100% of their workforce, demonstrating its scalability.
- Work hour reduction: 34% of organizations successfully reduced weekly work hours by 20%, offering employees an extra day off without compressed schedules.
- Widespread continuation: A majority of participating organizations (75%) plan to continue the 4-day workweek beyond the trial, reflecting its effectiveness and positive reception.
- Productivity and performance: Financial outcomes remained stable with no significant changes in revenue or profit, while efficiency improved through 52% of meetings being shortened, 65% reduction in distractions, and 63% optimization of workflows.
Employees Findings
- Stress reduction: Stress levels decreased by 89 minutes per week.
- Physical activity: Participants took 1,848 additional steps and engaged in 24.45 more minutes of physical activity weekly.
- Sleep improvement: Weekly sleep duration increased by 38 minutes compared to the control group.
- Employee satisfaction: 83% of participants supported continuing the 4DW, with over 90% reporting a positive impact on their well-being.
- Productivity gains: Self-reported productivity scores improved significantly (7.69 vs. 6.83 in the control group).
- Time allocation: Employees spent more time with family, friends, hobbies, and self-care.
- Work-life balance: Most participants reported a notable improvement in their work-life balance.
Would you like a 4 day work week?
Working Hours in Germany
At 34 hours, Germany has one of the shortest average work weeks in the world, but there’s a movement to improve working hours even more.
Legal working days in Germany are from Monday to Saturday, but for most workers, a standard work week is from 8 or 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Employees are allowed to work up to 10 hours per day, as long as the total weekly work time is not longer than 48 hours. Typically, work time should not exceed 8 hours per day.
Unlike many countries, Germany does not have laws that mandate overtime pay, but agreements often exist between the employee and employer.
In most cases, it is illegal for employers to force employees to work on Sundays or public holidays in Germany. If a worker is required to work in either of these circumstances, the employer is legally obligated to provide a substitute day off within a certain timeframe.
Vacation Policy in Germany
The amount of vacation time workers receive in Germany depends on the number of days they typically work. For every day in a work week an employee regularly works, they receive that many vacation days times 4. For example, a worker who works the standard 5 day work week would be entitled to 20 days off per year.
In addition to vacation time, workers in Germany enjoy at least 9 paid public holidays per year, although some states have up to 4 additional holidays.
Most of the time, workers in Germany are required to use their vacation days before the end of the year. In the event of a work emergency, employees may be allowed a few additional months to use their vacation time.
Part Time Working in Germany
In Germany, anyone who works less than 30 hours per week is considered a part time worker. Employees who have worked more than 6 months at a job are allowed to ask for a reduction in hours if they wish.
Germany has a high percentage of part time workers. As of 2021, 43% of Germany’s total workforce was part time. Of Germany’s total employed women, 59% work part time, while only 28% of the total male workforce in Germany are employed part-time.
Remote Working in Germany
Since Germany’s remote working obligation ended, the country has seen very little shift back to working on site. As of early 2022, almost 25% of Germany’s workforce was still working remotely at least some of the time.
The amount of workers telecommuting varies by industry, with retail and construction having the smallest percentage of remote workers.
