While many countries are discussing reducing the work week to four days, Greece’s conservative government has decided to go in the opposite direction. Experts say it’s a bad decision. Here are the main reasons
Without achieving gains in productivity and reducing unemployment, with the risk of fueling the “brain drain” and widening the gap between rich and poor. This is how Portuguese experts view Greece’s decision to increase the working week to six days. From 40 to 48 hours. A change that, although voluntary, according to those who know, comes in a “counter-cycle.”
“This decision by Greece is a bit outdated. It’s part of a backward mentality: the idea that the more time we devote to work, the better the results will be. That’s not true,” says Gabriel Leite Motta, an economist specializing in the economics of happiness.
He adds that this is “counterproductive” and “counter-incentive.” So let’s break down this decision in six arguments with the help of experts.
Argument 1: Productivity
One of the arguments the Greek government has put forward in favor of the change is increased productivity. Labor experts say that is not the case, especially since studies of the four-day work week have shown gains in this indicator.
“All studies show that effective productivity does not increase,” warns Liliana Dias, a psychologist specializing in well-being in organizations.
Since spending more time at work is one thing, getting the most out of it is another. Hence the distinction made by economist Pedro Braz Teixeira: “Productivity per hour does not change as a result, but rather total productivity increases, because these people work longer hours and therefore produce more.”
“This measure is very close to reality. It is not true that increasing working hours increases competitiveness. Quite the opposite,” adds Gabriel Leite Motta.
This economist recalls that studies of four-day work weeks show “lower absenteeism,” which ultimately represents improvements in personnel management and savings in replacement hiring.
The second argument: “brain drain”
In a country like Greece, where the minimum wage is 830 euros, increasing working hours can pose another risk: the risk of a “brain drain.”
This warning comes from Gabriel Leite Motta, who insisted that the Greek government has a vision for “low value-added companies.”
“The sectors that add value to the economy are sophisticated, require skilled human resources, and are highly mobile,” and therefore compete with other employers around the world. If they face a longer working week, this argument may influence their decision to leave the country.
The third requirement: the gap between the rich and the poor
“Although it is voluntary, all studies show that those who join will do so for economic reasons,” says psychologist Liliana Dias. To emphasize one point: a measure like the Greek one would widen the gap between those who earn more and those who earn less.
Yes, there are more working hours, in anticipation of a more relaxed life. But with “costs in terms of health and availability for personal and social life”. He stresses that this will “further exacerbate inequality”. And those who earn more from the start need not submit.
But economist Pedro Braz Teixeira has a somewhat different view, arguing that the gap is not widening: “If people who earn more don’t want to work longer hours and those who earn less do, wages will end.” [destas últimas] In order to get closer.”
However, he agrees that this comes at the cost of extra effort from those who have less. “If we also talk in Portugal to workers and ask them what they want, whether to reduce working hours to 35 or to increase by 15%, the majority would prefer 15%.”
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece (AP Photo/Paul White)
Fourth argument: the parallel economy
With inflation soaring, some people have been looking for a second job, sometimes on an informal basis – the so-called odd job. The Greek government says it wants to improve the conditions of single jobs, while combating the informal economy.
“As for undeclared work, which we call informal work, I don’t think it can be solved in this way. The problem is solved first through further inspection,” says Rita Garcia Pereira, a lawyer specializing in labor law.
Another point of view comes from psychology, showing that having a second job can be more positive than focusing effort on the main job only.
“Science shows that when a person does another activity, it benefits their productivity in their main workplace. It brings increased motivation. The fact that we always do the same activity is not conciliatory. A different activity that stimulates other demands, even if it is work, ultimately helps us recover better,” he says.
Argument 5: Unemployment
With an unemployment rate above 10%, experts warn that this measure will not ease the index from now on.
“If a company uses the workers it has, it will not hire more,” summarizes Pedro Braz Teixeira.
There is a possible explanation for this decision: by extending working hours, overtime – which in Portugal, for example, is more expensive than mandatory working hours – can be made less expensive for companies.
“If extra work is needed on a daily basis, it means they have to hire more people. Because in Greece, as here in Portugal, the need for extra work depends on exceptional reasons,” adds Rita Garcia Pereira.
Argument 6: Exception
The extension of working hours in Greece will only apply to certain sectors, such as factories or small businesses, as well as companies that provide uninterrupted services.
With one exception: the tourism, hotel and restaurant sectors, one of the engines of the Greek economy. Gabriele Leite Motta believes that by imposing a greater workload on a sector suffering from a “labor shortage,” the Greek government risks making the problem even worse.
“The tourism sector will not be regulated because it already works in shifts and has a very intense workload,” says Liliana Dias.
