The 4-Day Week initiative is currently in the testing phase in Brazil. It is an experiment aimed at evaluating the impacts of reducing the weekly working hours to four days.
This initiative is the result of a partnership between the global organization 4-Day Week, which conducts trials on reduced working hours in various countries, and the Brazilian organization Reconnect Happiness at Work.
Interested companies registered to participate in the experiment until August, and in September, a training program began for the implementation of the new model. The actual test phase will commence in December.
The model adopted by participating companies is the 100-80-100: employees will continue to receive 100% of their salaries and benefits while working 80% of the time, maintaining 100% of their previous productivity.
At the end of the experiment, indicators such as team stress, work-life balance, financial results, and turnover rate will be assessed.
It’s important to note that, according to Brazilian labor law, there is no legal impediment to adopting a four-day workweek. Currently, the standard workweek in Brazil is limited to 44 hours per week and 8 hours per day.
The adoption of this new system involves working four days a week with an additional day off, without the need for overtime to compensate for the day off. This results in a weekly workload of 32 hours.
To ensure greater legal security and the ability to revert the change, given the absence of specific legislation on the topic, it is advisable to formalize the adoption of this model through collective bargaining between employers and employees.
In the collective agreement, details should be stipulated, including the duration of the test, the employees involved, the possibility of returning to a five-day workweek with 44 hours per week, as well as issues related to flexible hours, task reorganization, internal responsibilities, and the potential adoption of new technologies. Additionally, the agreement can establish that, if not renewed, the original work schedule will be automatically reinstated upon its expiration.
International experience shows varying results. In countries like New Zealand and Sweden, some companies tested the four-day workweek and observed increased productivity, improved employee well-being, and reduced stress levels. Technology and service sector companies have been particularly inclined to experiment with this model. In Japan, for example, technology companies that adopted the reduced workweek noticed improvements in the work-life balance of their employees.
One of the arguments in favor of this shift in working hours is the idea that well-rested employees tend to be more efficient and less prone to errors, which could, in turn, result in talent retention, reduced absenteeism, decreased workplace accidents, and lower employee turnover.
However, it’s important to note that reducing the workweek could entail initial costs for companies, which may need to make additional hires to compensate for the hours not worked or invest in technology to maintain efficiency.
Our Labor team is available to provide clarification and guidance on this matter and other topics related to labor law.
Authoria: Elaine Martins Staffa
