Japan proposes four-day work week

A four-day work week may be on the table for Japanese workers according to new information released in the government's latest annual economic policy guidelines.

Japan has become famous for its hard workers and officials wish to encourage the public to have a more healthy work-life balance by getting businesses to allow workers to opt to work for four days of the week over the typical five. There are often stories in Japanese media detailed illnesses or even suicides attributed to overwork.

This marks a recent trend in industry owing to more and more research concluding a four-day week may offer a net-positive to productivity.

Read more: Unilever to trial four-day work week in New Zealand

Many operations within the country have already been altered by the pandemic, including an increase in people working from home, so this may be the opportune time to make such changes to the work environment.

In an interview with German newspaper DW, Martin Schulz, the chief policy economist for Fujitsu Ltd.'s Global Market Intelligence Unit, said a culture of overwork is ingrained into Japanese society and the government is keen to change these attitudes.

He added: "During the pandemic, companies have shifted to new ways of operating and they are seeing a gradual increase in productivity. Companies are having their employees work from home or remotely, at satellite offices or at their customers' locations, which can be far more convenient and productive for many."

Japan's economy bounced back in the second half of 2020 and is expected to have a GDP net gain of 3% in 2021. However, a spike in Covid-19 cases towards the end of Q1 has clouded its future slightly.

While a shorter work week should have positive effects on workers owing to the stress presented by the coronavirus pandemic, the government adds that the advent of remote working, increased interconnectivity and a better -work-life balance may also be beneficial if they remain in place in the post-Covid world.

Microsoft Japan trialled a four-day work week in 2019 and found worker productivity went up by as much as 40%.

The company also reported increases in efficiency in several areas, including a 23% reduction in electricity bills from the same period, spurring similar trials held later that year.

Spain also conducted a large social experiment in March, with 200 companies offering four-day weeks as part of their packages.

In its outline of the campaign, the Japanese government revealed it expects companies will be able to retain staff who may otherwise have to book extended periods of time off - such as new parents or those caring for relatives - and this may also signal that the overall number of days taken off my employees may decrease.

It also claims the free time may allow workers to "re-enter education" to learn new skills or "take up other employment opportunities" if they desire.

Hopes were raised over potential economic growth owing to workers having more free time to engage with hobbies or go out and spend, which is particularly important with an economy as stagnant as Japan's.

Read more: This "Office of the Future" is completely pandemic-proof

Japan, like much of East Asia, is also suffering from a significant decline in birth rates to the point where its population is actively shrinking. The government hopes a better work-life balance could enable younger people to explore relationships and start families.

However, the issues of stagnant and low wages and a lack of viable opportunities for fulfilling careers may still be present even if the environment of overwork is ultimately alleviated.

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