Germany’s Finance Minister, Christian Lindner, has expressed his strong opposition to the concept of a 4-day workweek and the associated trade union demands for reduced working hours without a corresponding decrease in wages. Speaking during an event in Switzerland, Lindner asserted that “Never in history has a society increased its prosperity by working less.”
However, this stance contradicts the prevailing sentiment among Germans, as indicated by a widely cited survey conducted by the labor union-financed Hans Böckler Institute. The survey reveals that 73% of Germans support the transition to a 4-day workweek, provided their wages remain unchanged. Only 8% are willing to accept reduced pay, while 17% outright reject the idea.
Several German companies grappling with skilled labor shortages have begun experimenting with extended workdays of nine or ten hours in exchange for an additional day off. Proponents argue that this approach can lead to more motivated employees and fewer sick days.
In response to these developments, Germany’s manufacturing union, IG Metall, has set a 32-hour workweek with full pay as a goal for upcoming collective bargaining negotiations. The first test of this initiative is scheduled to commence with the steel industry, where wage discussions for 80,000 workers across most of the country are set to begin soon. In Germany’s consensus-based culture, these negotiations typically involve labor leaders starting with ambitious demands and then seeking compromises with employers.
Notably, business leaders in other parts of the world have shown less enthusiasm for the concept of reduced working hours, including remote work. For instance, Narayana Murthy, the billionaire founder of Infosys and one of India’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, encouraged employees to devote 70 hours a week to their work as a patriotic duty to their nation.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and its largest shareholder, expressed his strong opposition to remote work during a recent quarterly earnings call, characterizing it as socially decadent. Musk, who also oversees a major manufacturing plant in Germany, emphasized the significance of being present and involved in the workplace.
Despite not being an entrepreneur, Finance Minister Lindner has reasons to oppose labor policies that extend beyond his government’s economic performance. Leading the economically liberal Free Democrats, a junior coalition partner in Germany, Lindner’s core constituency consists of small business owners and self-employed individuals who may be concerned about the potential impact of a 4-day workweek on their competitiveness.
Lindner reiterates his belief that “the key to our prosperity remains hard work,” underlining his commitment to maintaining Germany’s economic strength.
