Ok, so where this started is in New Zealand, and because of the Covid-19 virus....they felt something special needed to occur....to 'bump' the economy. So instead of working five days....the idea is being thrown around there over four days.
Naturally, the big question over the discussion there in New Zealand....does 40 hours fall into play, and no one seems to want to discuss the 40-hour situation.
This has been picked up by various German economists and political figures.....with the discussion going the same way....avoiding the 40-hour talk, but centering on four days instead.
Everyone seems settled on the idea of more productive people, and happier things going on....because you got an entire extra day of free time.
Personally, I can't find a lot to be super-positive over the idea.
Lets go to the interaction problem first. It's already difficult to deal with German services and government authorities because of limited manpower....as it is right now. Some offices will let you know that Huns (their one and only person dealing with 'X')....will only be taking customers on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons (until 5:30 PM). You see this a great deal with German governmental services now, and it's broadening out into the commercial world as well.
Second, just because you have a third day off each week....doesn't mean it's a relaxing day. For the gamer-crowd, it's an entire extra 18-hour day devoted to more 'warcraft'. For others, it's another day at some disco until the late hours, and popping another ecstasy pill. These 'geeks' on the 4-day idea...haven't been around a lot of people in their lives (my thinking).
Third, without the 40-hour discussion....this seems all null and void. If you intend to have a 32-hour 4-day a week work period....then it would seem that you'd get paid less (a fair amount less). Is that the real intent of this discussion?
Fourth, and final...if you as a nation go this way, and your neighbor doesn't....will competition suddenly become an issue....with your neighbor moving ahead, and you standing there and wondering....economically, what went wrong with the whole thing?
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