Experiment in Canada: work less, earn more
Canada is testing a 4-day workweek. We have collected all the information about the results, advantages and disadvantages of the experiment.
In Canada, cities and individual companies have also begun testing a four-day workweek. So far, the results are only encouraging.
As a reminder, from 2015 to 2019, Ireland conducted 2 experiments to introduce a 4-day workweek with no wage cuts. The results were incredible for all parties. Not only did productivity not decrease, but it even increased in some cases. Employees reported feeling better about their work-life balance. Now 86% of employees across the country either work a reduced week or have their day reduced.
The Nova Scotia government was the first in the country to decide to try out the new concept. In Gainsborough, around 60 civil servants could take another day off on a Monday or Friday. The project began back in 2020 and did not end until April 2021. For now, a shorter schedule has been approved for employees. The government says it could eventually become final. Although the number of hours has been reduced, productivity has only increased.
In September 2020, Gainsborough was followed by Sorra in Ontario. The experiment lasted 8 months, and after its completion the employees returned to their previous work mode. Nevertheless, they have the option of sometimes taking an extra day off on Monday or Friday.
In major cities, some companies have switched to a four-day week on their own initiative. These companies include consulting company Iversoft, Expedibox, David Suzuki Foundation in Quebec and in Atlantic Provinces Canada. In Montreal, video game studio Eidos has moved employees to a reduced workweek with full pay. Meanwhile, the new schedule also applies to the Sherbrooke office. However, as the head of the studio notes, the main task is not to reduce the week, but to make more productive work. That's why there is a need to rethink the way we interact. One solution is to reduce negotiations from an hour to half an hour.
At first, experts assessed the idea of shortening the working week without changing wages as utopian. However, since there is no evidence of bad results or lawsuits related to this experiment, it can be considered a success.
The benefits of the four-day work week include:
- increased productivity;
- work-life balance;
- improving the mental health of employees.
The minuses include changes in customer habits, which will inevitably lead to changes in work schedules. In addition, it is noted that there may be disagreements between employees of different ages. After all, the older generation is used to working in a different mode.
Whether such a shortened week will become widespread across the country is difficult to say. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has noted, he is open to suggestions, but the first priority is dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Nevertheless, an Angus Reid poll showed that 53 per cent of Canadians like the idea of moving to a 4-day week.
