Russia's Medvedev advocates for reduced work week trial in the country.
In a forward-thinking approach, Medvedev suggested that workweeks could be compressed on a broad scale. This could be across an entire experiment, a region, or even a group of companies, reducing the workweek hours by one, two, or three. TASS reported this claim.
Medvedev, the deputy head of the Security Council, believes reducing workweek hours could potentially minimize unemployment threats in certain situations. Transitioning gradually to a four-day workweek could be an option.
He emphasized two critical conditions for this transition: productivity should not decrease, and wages should not decrease either.
Earlier reports suggested that a four-day workweek in Russia was unavoidable. Sergei Vostretsov, a member of the State Duma's Labor committee, provided insights on the timeline for Russia’s potential transition to a four-day workweek.
In a survey conducted in February 2021, opinions among Russian businesses about a shorter workweek were mixed.
As a global trend, companies worldwide have started shifting towards reducing workweek hours, driven by several factors. Technological advancements, changing employee priorities, and improving productivity are key reasons that propel this trend. According to recent studies, a four-day workweek often leads to sustained or even improved productivity, resulting in increased revenue.
Employees stand to benefit from a four-day workweek in terms of a better work-life balance, reduced burnout, higher engagement, and better mental and physical health.
For the four-day workweek model to be feasible, it is essential that industries embrace technology, undergo a shift in organizational mindset, and continuously measure productivity. Among the most suitable industries for the four-day workweek are tech and knowledge-based sectors with flexible work environments and digital tools at their disposal.
This shift towards a four-day workweek is increasingly viewed as a realistic future model, rather than a passing trend, due to the myriad benefits it provides, bolstered by growing evidence of its success. In this new era of work culture, resilience, and balance, the four-day workweek could be on the verge of becoming the norm.
Medvedev, in light of the news about workweek compression, advocates for the possibility of a four-day workweek in Russia as a means of mitigating unemployment threats, under the condition that productivity and wages remain steady. The timeline for this potential policy-and-legislation change is currently under consideration, as reported by TASS. In the broader context of global business, finance, and politics, a trend toward reduced workweek hours, driven by factors such as technological advancements and changing employee priorities, is gaining momentum, with evidence indicating that this can lead to improved productivity and increased revenue.
