Greece’s New Six-Day Workweek: A Step Towards Economic Recovery and Quality of Life?

In an effort to stimulate its economy, Greece recently implemented a limited six-day workweek. Certain industries that operate 24 hours a day in Greece may now allow employees to work up to 48 hours per week, an increase from the previous maximum of 40 hours. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the change as “growth-oriented” and aimed at reducing tax evasion caused by undeclared work.

This new policy contrasts with some other economies in Europe and the United States that have moved towards a shorter workweek. For example, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont introduced legislation this year proposing a 32-hour workweek as the new standard defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Additionally, 30% of American CEOs surveyed expressed interest in exploring organization-wide work schedule shifts such as a four-day or 4.5-day workweek.

The recent changes in Greece reflect efforts to adapt to changing economic conditions and improve overall productivity. The country has faced financial difficulties following the global financial crisis of 2007-2008, which resulted in a sovereign debt crisis and led to austerity measures and increased taxes. However, with this new policy, Greece hopes to encourage businesses to invest more and create jobs while also improving the quality of life for its workers.