The Five-Day Workweek in Switzerland: Past, Present, and Future Challenges

The traditional five-day workweek in Switzerland is being challenged, with some companies opting for a four-day week with the same salary to motivate their employees. Meanwhile, Greece has recently allowed workers to choose to work six days a week instead of five to address a shortage of skilled workers. While there is no legal requirement for Saturday work in Switzerland, many Swiss people value their two-day weekend and prefer to have Saturdays off.

Swiss labor law defines workload in hours per week, with only Sunday work requiring a permit. The employers’ association notes that many Swiss people prioritize their leisure time and prefer the two-day weekend over working on Saturdays. However, the acceptance of the five-day workweek in Switzerland was a slow process that originated in the American industrial sector in the early 20th century.

Henry Ford, an important pioneer of the five-day workweek, made Saturday a day off for his factory workers in 1926, emphasizing that less working time could boost the economy by providing more leisure time for additional consumer spending. It took decades for the change to take effect in Switzerland, with trade unions and employers’ associations agreeing to collective agreements in the late 1950s marking a turning point. Since then, the five-day workweek has become widely accepted in Switzerland, leading to more flexible working time models and an increase in part-time work in the 21st century.

While the five-day workweek was a significant innovation in the 20th century, it now faces challenges from both companies seeking to motivate employees and governments looking to address labor shortages. As such, it remains an open question whether this traditional model will remain untouchable or be replaced by more flexible schedules both upwards and downwards.

The Swiss labor laws define workload based on hours worked per week with Sunday being exempted from any permit requirements. The employers’ association notes that many Swiss people value their leisure time and prefer having Saturdays off rather than working on them.

However, it is worth noting that while there is no legal prohibition against working on Sundays in Switzerland, many Swiss people see Sunday as their day of rest and do not want to give up their leisure time.

In recent years, some companies have started offering four-day weeks with similar salaries as an alternative way of motivating employees. This trend has been particularly prevalent during times when there are labor shortages.

On the other hand, Greece has recently allowed workers to choose whether they want to work six days or five days per week as a way of addressing its own labor shortage issues.

The adoption of a four-day week may seem like an innovative solution for companies looking for ways to keep their employees motivated while also saving costs on salaries.

However, it can also be seen as challenging traditional norms around work hours and creating new expectations around employee availability.

In conclusion, while there may be different approaches towards creating flexible schedules that meet business needs while also respecting employee wellbeing and preferences