Whether in retail, office or crafts – the desire for a four-day week is great. Image: iStockphoto / jacoblund
The introduction of the eight-hour day in 1919 required no more and no less than the industrialists’ fear of a revolution. Before Bolshevism and before anarchy. The First World War was over and the atmosphere heated up. The Social Democrat Friedrich Ebert and his interim government introduced the eight-hour day by decree on January 1, 1919 – with full wage compensation. The pragmatic trade unionists had prevailed.
This improvement in the quality of life of wage workers and employees is more than 100 years ago. Nevertheless, there is still a struggle today: What should the relationship between working hours and free time look like in 2023?
The answer that some countries have: The four-day week with full wage compensation. In Belgium, for example, the concept of flexible working hours is about to become a reality. Employees can then split their weekly working hours over four days. They would work longer on these days, but would have three days off a week.
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