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Economics
Finland’s Millennial PM Calls for Debate on 4-Day Work Week
By
Kati Pohjanpalo
January 8, 2020, 8:57 AM EST
World's Youngest Prime Minister
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The truth about Finland's PM and the plan for a four-day week
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has welcomed debate on a four-day work week, calling it an “interesting question” that’s worth looking into as employees deserve some of the trickle-down benefits of improved productivity.
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Marin, 34, was asked about the idea during a trip to Sweden on Wednesday. Her first official visit abroad since becoming prime minister came a day after her government was forced to deny media reports that it was planning to drastically cut working hours.
There is a small amount of truth to the reports, in the sense that Finland’s prime minister is supportive of a four-day week in theory.
When Ms Marin was the minister of transport and communications in August 2019, she made a brief comment in support of the idea during a panel discussion at the SDP's 120th anniversary event.
“A four-day work week, a six-hour workday. Why couldn’t it be the next step? Is eight hours really the ultimate truth?” she said, according to the Helsinki Times newspaper.
“I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. This could be the next step for us in working life.”
Ms Marin also tweeted about the idea after the panel and said “shorter working hours can and should be discussed.”
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“A 4-day week or a 6-hour day with a decent wage may be a utopia today, but may be true in the future,” she said
Read more: Finland Dispels Media Myth PM Is Considering a 4-Day Work Week
“Until now, the trend has been toward shorter working hours as productivity has increased,” she told reporters in Harpsund, Sweden. “I believe that in the future, though not in the next few years, the development will be similar: improvements in productivity and technology should show up as improvements in the conditions for ordinary workers, including shorter working hours.”
The Finnish government isn’t currently working on a four-day week, she said
Economics
Finland’s Millennial PM Calls for Debate on 4-Day Work Week
By
Kati Pohjanpalo
January 8, 2020, 8:57 AM EST
World's Youngest Prime Minister
Sign up here to receive the Davos Diary, a special daily newsletter that will run from Jan. 20-24.
The truth about Finland's PM and the plan for a four-day week
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has welcomed debate on a four-day work week, calling it an “interesting question” that’s worth looking into as employees deserve some of the trickle-down benefits of improved productivity.
Ad
Marin, 34, was asked about the idea during a trip to Sweden on Wednesday. Her first official visit abroad since becoming prime minister came a day after her government was forced to deny media reports that it was planning to drastically cut working hours.
There is a small amount of truth to the reports, in the sense that Finland’s prime minister is supportive of a four-day week in theory.
When Ms Marin was the minister of transport and communications in August 2019, she made a brief comment in support of the idea during a panel discussion at the SDP's 120th anniversary event.
“A four-day work week, a six-hour workday. Why couldn’t it be the next step? Is eight hours really the ultimate truth?” she said, according to the Helsinki Times newspaper.
“I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. This could be the next step for us in working life.”
Ms Marin also tweeted about the idea after the panel and said “shorter working hours can and should be discussed.”
“A 4-day week or a 6-hour day with a decent wage may be a utopia today, but may be true in the future,” she said
Read more: Finland Dispels Media Myth PM Is Considering a 4-Day Work Week
“Until now, the trend has been toward shorter working hours as productivity has increased,” she told reporters in Harpsund, Sweden. “I believe that in the future, though not in the next few years, the development will be similar: improvements in productivity and technology should show up as improvements in the conditions for ordinary workers, including shorter working hours.”
The Finnish government isn’t currently working on a four-day week, she said
