Will there be another clash in the coalition? This issue is particularly important for the Left

The Minister of Funds and Regional Policy was asked whether, in the context of the worsening demographic situation, introducing a four-day work week is a good solution. She admitted that, in her opinion, it is a bad proposal.

Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz opposes shortening working hours

– My understanding of responsible politics is that when we have a really serious demographic crisis on the table, talking about a four-day work week is somehow unrealistic, it is telling people about impossible things – she added.

She stressed that such a solution was never part of the Poland 2050 party’s program.

– This is something that should not be happening today. Instead, we should focus on and take care of protecting workers’ rights – if people are to work efficiently, they must feel safe at work – she noted.

The Minister of Labor, Agnieszka Dziamianowicz-Bąk, is an advocate of statutory reduction of working hours. The ministry she heads is conducting analyses of this topic. Two scenarios are being considered: a 7-hour workday or one day off per week.

– In a relatively good economic situation, with low unemployment and with social expectations from young people in particular, the demand for time for life, time for development, time for family is a demand that must be taken seriously. In the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, we take it seriously and I believe that it is time to actually shorten the working week to four days in the perspective of perhaps not a month, perhaps not a year, but the next few years – announced the Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk.

Shorter working hours in offices in Włocławek

Some companies do not need a law to check whether reduced working hours will make teams work better without affecting efficiency. The mayor of Włocławek, who is associated with the Left, also took such a step. He decided that from September, employees of the City Office will work reduced hours. How will it be organized? Krzysztof Kukucki said on TOK FM that employees had two options to choose from – a seven-hour workday and a shortened workweek with a longer weekend. The votes were split almost 50-50, and the adoption of the five-day system was decided by a majority of a dozen votes with 400 employees.

Poles in favor of a 4-day work week

According to 68% of Poles, introducing a 4-day work week with 8 hours per day would be a better solution than 5 days with 6.4 hours. The latter solution would be chosen by 23% of people, and 9% have no opinion on the subject. The respondents were also asked in a multiple choice question about the possible effects of introducing a 4-day work model. The respondents answered that in their opinion the income of both employees and companies will remain at the same level (40% of indications), employees will earn less (15%), both employees and employers will earn more (14%), both groups will receive less (12%), no opinion on the subject (11%), employers will earn less (10%), only entrepreneurs will achieve higher income (8%). In turn, 7% claim that a 4-day work week will only increase employees’ earnings.