The Government of Japan is really worried about the labour shortage in the country. Therefore, it is urging more employers to embrace a four-day work week. Organisations are being encouraged to allow their employees to take at least three days off, if not four.
The Japanese are labelled as workaholics. In fact, the culture of hard work is so ingrained that people are known to literally work themselves to death.
With the dearth of labour threatening to affect the economy, the government is pushing organisations to embrace a four-day workweek.
Though the idea of shorter workweeks was mooted at least three years ago, it has not really caught up. Interestingly, employees themselves seem to be insufficiently motivated to embrace a shorter workweek. For instance, at Panasonic Holdings, only 150 employees chose the four-day workweek out of 63,000, reports AP.
Only about eight per cent of companies in the country have adopted a five-day workweek. Only seven per cent allow their workers to take a day off, which is compulsory by law.
The government has also started a campaign to promote shorter workweeks and more convenient and flexible hours, along with overtime pay and paid annual leaves.
To motivate employers, the Labour Ministry is offering free consultation, along with special grants. It is also sharing the success stories of employers who have benefitted from shorter workweeks to encourage others.
The special campaign has been aptly called ‘Hatarakikata Kaikaku’ or ‘Innovating How We Work’.
However, not many employers or organisations have sought special consultation yet on how to ‘innovate’ and make the shorter workweek work.
