Tyla

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

​Finland's Prime Minister Shares Her Vision For A Four-Day Working Week

Lauren Bell

Published 
| Last updated 

​Finland's Prime Minister Shares Her Vision For A Four-Day Working Week

Featured Image Credit: Pexels

The idea of a four-day working week and whether it will boost productivity has long been discussed by workers, business owners and governments in countries all over the world.

And Finnish Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, has floated the idea that she'd like to one day see the Nordic country shorten their working week to four days comprising just six hours each - that's a mere 24-hour working week!

Her ideas for more flexibility was first expressed at a Social Democratic Party event panel last August when she was serving as Minister of Transport and Communications.

Loading…

Advert

According to the Helsinki Times she said: "I believe this is the direction we'll move in going forward, although probably not in the immediate future.

"As productivity improves [and] technology advances, this should also be reflected in improvements in the situations of ordinary people and ordinary workers - in shorter working times and improved position and rights of workers".

But despite hopes this would come to fruition soon, the Finnish government has no current plans to institute such a policy, not this year at least.

Advert

It said in a statement on Twitter: "In the Finnish Government´s program there is no mention about 4-day week. Issue is not on the Finnish Government's agenda. PM @marinsanna envisioned idea briefly in a panel discussion last August while she was the Minister of Transport, and there hasn't been any recent activity."

An official from Sanna's office confirmed to The Independent that the policy was "more of a future vision and a potential future goal for the Social Democratic Party (SDP)".

So while her ideas may sound revolutionary, it may be a while before they are passed in the Finnish government, if at all.

Sanna Marin is the second youngest head of government in the world (Credit: PA)
Sanna Marin is the second youngest head of government in the world (Credit: PA)
Advert

Sanna is the second youngest head of government in the world and is the leader of a five party centre-left coalition which is all led by women.

It is regarded as a unique and inspiring government that manages to collaborate all party's views into government discussions. So it would be no surprise if such a government did introduce such a policy one day in the future.

It is not the first time Finland has considered making the working week more family-friendly. In 1996, workers were given the right to start or finish work three hours earlier or later under the Working Hours Pact.

The new Finnish proposal will transform the working week with four days just six hours long (Credit: Needpix)
The new Finnish proposal will transform the working week with four days just six hours long (Credit: Needpix)
Advert

It is no surprise, then, that Finland topped the list of The United Nations World Happiness Report in 2019.

Back in August last year, Microsoft Japan conducted a study on its employees which showed that sales were boosted by nearly 40 per cent when the company reduced hours to a four day week on full pay, according to the BBC.

If it makes us healthier, happier and gives us more time to watch Netflix (and spend time with loved ones, obvs) then we're all for it. UK next please?

An earlier version of this story suggested that the government were intending to implement this policy. The version was amended on 6th January to reflect there are currently no plans to introduce a four day working week in Finland.

Topics: wellbeing, Life

Lauren Bell
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

Entertainment

Gogglebox star George Gilbey dies aged 40

13 hours ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

Viewers binge 'gripping' crime drama in one go amid calls for second series

2 days ago