Why the Dutch Are Loving Four-Day Workweeks—And Can They Keep It Up?

The Netherlands is known for its unique approach to work, with many people choosing to work only four days a week. This trend has been growing for several years, and it is not just small businesses that are trying it out. Even large companies and organizations are allowing their employees to work fewer days. Gavin Arm and Bert de Wit, who run a branding company in Amsterdam called Positivity Branding, decided to switch to a four-day workweek back in 2019. They wanted to make sure their employees could have a better balance between work and their personal lives. Gavin says that he does not want to miss out on his children's childhood because of work. Bert believes that working smarter, not harder, is the key to success. They did not reduce anyone's salary or make them work longer hours each day. Instead, everyone works eight hours a day for four days, which adds up to 32 hours a week.

In the Netherlands, working fewer hours is quite common. The average Dutch worker puts in about 32 hours a week, which is less than in most other European countries. The country's largest union, FNV, is pushing for the government to officially recommend a four-day workweek. Dutch law already allows employees to ask for reduced hours if they want. Marieke Pepers, who works at a software company called Nmbrs, takes Fridays off every week. She says that having more free time helps her come up with better ideas and makes her happier. Since her company switched to a four-day week, fewer people are getting sick, and more employees are staying with the company. At first, some workers were worried they would not be able to finish their work in just four days, but they learned to focus on the most important tasks and cut down on unnecessary meetings.

Even though Dutch people work fewer hours, the country is still very productive and has a strong economy. Some experts say that working less can be good for people's health and happiness, and it can help keep people in their jobs longer. However, there are some challenges. The Netherlands has an aging population, which means more people are retiring and fewer people are working. Some economists think that more Dutch women should work full time, but many women work part time because childcare is expensive and taxes are high. There is also a belief in Dutch society that mothers with young children should not work too much. Some people think that making four-day workweeks normal could help close the gap between men and women at work. Gavin and Bert believe that the most important thing is for people to be happy and enjoy their lives, and they think the four-day week helps with that.