this post was submitted on 27 Oct 2024
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Work Reform

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How's Iceland's 4-Day Work Week Working? 'Incredibly Well,' Study Says (www.commondreams.org)
submitted 2 weeks ago by return2ozma@lemmy.world to c/workreform@lemmy.world
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[–] Phoenix3875@lemmy.world 32 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Encouraging. However, there seems to be a question missing in the discussion: why aren't more people taking the reduced hour offerings?

According to the report itself, after the first stage of trial, 86% of the working population started to negotiate for reduced hours, of the people surveyed, 51% were offered reduced hours and only 14% took them. It's an unprecedented large proportion, but still less than one would expect given the benefits. There are other factors preventing people to do so. I hope there will be a follow-up research to find out why.

[–] Benjaben@lemmy.world 17 points 2 weeks ago

I think it's probably like the other commenter said, just money. I think it may be "the other thing"? Where you can have whatever rules and policies in place at the govt level, but if there's a "work hard / sacrifice for dumb reasons" culture solidly entrenched at work...well, writing's on the wall. Do that or be soft-ostracized.

I do think the rules make an impact anywhere there's a functioning government, just by slowly shifting what people see (accept?) as "normal".

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

People barely survive on their income as it is, that's why

[–] iknowitwheniseeit@lemmynsfw.com 11 points 2 weeks ago

From the study:

Between 2015 and 2019, following discussions between public sector employers and trade unions, Iceland saw two major public sector trials of a shorter working week for no loss in pay.

[–] IntangibleSloth@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

[Dreaming in American]

[–] Sabata11792@ani.social 10 points 2 weeks ago

Unauthorized use of company time, you pay has bee reduced by 50% for this pay period.

[–] sir_pronoun@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

So they can choose to take the 36 hour week, right? Guess that means they earn less if they do?

[–] iknowitwheniseeit@lemmynsfw.com 17 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The article is unclear, but the introduction on the study says:

Between 2015 and 2019, following discussions between public sector employers and trade unions, Iceland saw two major public sector trials of a shorter working week for no loss in pay.

[–] sir_pronoun@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Jeez, Scandinavian countries showing how it's done again. How come the rest of the world isn't crying in shame all day?

[–] dafo@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

Sorry to be that guy, but Scandinavia is just the "peninsula", so Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The Nordics is us three, Finland, Iceland, Färöarna, Åland and Greenland. Basically what you probably think of when you think of Scandinavia.

But yes, we rule 😎

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 3 points 2 weeks ago

Because we're supremely good at inventing thought terminating cliches and right-wing weirdos.

[–] iceonfire1@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Reduced from 40 to 36 hours is in the right direction, but it's still a 5 day work week.