The workweek is about to get a lot longer for some employees in Greece.
Starting July 1, workers in the private sector could be going into the office six days a week—as the 48-hour workweek goes into effect.
Select industrial and manufacturing facilities, along with businesses that provide 24/7 services, are eligible to extend the workweek beyond five days under new labor laws. Food service and tourism workers are not included in the longer workweeks.
The change to the labor laws was approved last September following productivity issues in the country, which have led many workers to put in extra hours and often not be compensated for the time. Officials also note there has been a shortage of skilled workers due to a shrinking population.
Workers who do put in the extra time will receive 40% extra during the additional eight hours—and 115% of their normal salary if they work on a holiday.
Employers who decide to embrace the 48-hour workweek will be required to notify employees at least 24 hours before the shift begins. No additional overtime beyond the eight hours is allowed.
The new rules were not met with widespread acceptance ahead of their approval. The day before the bill was passed, public sector workers, such as teachers, doctors, and transportation workers, walked off the job in protest, calling the overhaul an affront to workers’ rights that could create “barbaric” conditions.
Workers in Greece already work more than those in the U.S. And most of Europe. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) notes Greeks worked an average of 1,886 hours in 2022, compared to 1,811 in the U.S. And the European Union average of 1,571.
Greece’s unorthodox approach to labor comes as many other regions are experimenting with a four-day workweek. Last year, the results of the world’s largest trial of the shorter schedule showed workers who put in four days were just as productive as they were during a five-day week. The nonprofit that ran the pilot program called it a “resounding success on virtually every dimension.”
Last March, one member of California’s legislature floated legislation for a 32-hour workweek to become national law, with the backing of the AFL-CIO and the Economic Policy Institute. The bill failed to find traction.