World of HR: Greece begins six-day workweek for some workers

While some countries are trying to shorten the workweek, Greece just made it longer for many workers.

Where in the world? Greece became the first country in the EU to mandate a six-day workweek this month, NPR reported. The law only applies to companies that operate services 24/7 in industries that may have specialized laborers, like manufacturing. Companies that opt in can require that employees work 48 hours a week, with 40% overtime pay for the extra eight hours. Workers may fulfill this by working an additional day, or by working two more hours each day, according to the Guardian.

More than 82% of Greek employers say they’re struggling with a skills shortage, according to the Greek Reporter, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has claimed the move is necessary to help address the issue. The government also said that the move will help workers make more money, at a time when the cost of living and inflation are rising.

However, some unions and workers believe the move is a step backward.

“Better productivity comes with better work conditions, a better quality of life [for employees,] and that, we now know, is about less hours not more,” Akis Sotiropoulos, executive committee member of Adedy, a civil servants union, told the Guardian.

In response, the government clarified that the six-day workweek will only be utilized in “specific circumstances,” according to CNBC.

Satellite view. Greece isn’t the only country trying to solve a labor shortage. In June, Germany began offering an Opportunity Card visa to attract more skilled foreign workers, and Singapore recently introduced the right to flexible work in an effort to keep people, including women and caregivers, in the workforce.

Meanwhile, some countries, including South Africa, the UK, and Portugal, are considering having their residents spend less time on the job, with some employers introducing four-day workweeks in the last two years.