Spain is preparing to become one of the first countries to introduce a four-day work week. The country's government, together with the two largest trade unions, reached an agreement that provides for the reduction of working hours from 40 to 37.5 per week without reducing wages. The changes should take effect by the end of 2025 if approved by parliament. This will be a significant step for many workers, as the innovation will affect about 12 million people.
Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz called the planned reform "historic," noting that it meets the needs of today's generation, for whom personal time has become more important than the traditional number of working hours. This move reflects changes in societal values, where people are increasingly seeking to balance their professional and personal lives. Under the plan, workers will only be able to work four days a week while keeping their income at the same level. The important point is that any additional work beyond the prescribed hours will be considered overtime, and companies will be forced to pay for these additional hours. In addition, there will be increased controls to ensure compliance with the new working schedule, and fines for companies for violations can reach up to €10,000 per employee. Not everyone in the country supports these changes.
Spain's main employers' association CEOE has already expressed its indignation, pointing out that the adoption of the law without taking into account the specific needs of each company could lead to significant difficulties, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. This raises concerns about the possible increase in costs and the complication of work processes if the model is introduced at the national level. To facilitate this transition, Minister of Economy Carlos Cuerpo stated that it is possible to postpone the implementation of this initiative until 2026, which will give more time to small businesses to adapt to new conditions. Some companies are already experimenting with the four-day work week and have achieved impressive results. For example, Hack a Boss, a technology company, implemented a four-day work week model and saw the largest growth in its history in its first year. The company organizes work in such a way that all employees determine their tasks at the beginning of the week, which allows organizing the work process in four days without the need to work overtime. According to the management, this contributes not only to improved productivity, but also to increased work satisfaction among employees.
A four-day working week without a reduction in wages is a new stage in the development of labor relations, which may become a reality in Spain in the near future. Although the reform is supported by trade unions and the government, it faces resistance from employers. Whether this step will become the basis for changes in other European countries is a question that will require time to be resolved. But we can already say that this experiment will be an important test for the modern labor market.
