Several experts suggest a 4-day work week is a luxury South Africa cannot afford.
Although the first 4-day workweek pilot in South Africa showed some positives, several experts say the model simply won’t work for the majority of industries, with only a small wealthy group afforded the luxury of picking such a work model.
According to the results, some of the positives that came from the South African pilot included an increase in company revenue, 49% reported an increase in productivity, participants experienced a decrease in work stress, and the number of sick and personal days taken by employees also decreased. “In South Africa, the average worker is unlikely to earn enough on a shorter work week to make ends meet without also implementing large increases in hourly wages.
Essentially, most wealthier workers in South Africa and the average workers in developed countries have moved to this scenario.The average worker in a rich country can afford to work less but still be paid a good salary at the end of the month, and the evidence suggests that productivity is not necessarily negatively affected.
“It is important to recognise that there is a clear absence of businesses from other sectors, such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing, which together constitute some of the largest employers in South Africa. The efficacy of a 4-day workweek in these industries is uncertain.”
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