[Finland] New Prime Minister’s four-day working week plan

Sanna Marin - Finland's new Prime Minister - has called for a more flexible working schedule, comprised of a four-day working week and a six-hour working day, to be introduced, Mail Online reports.

The Prime Minister said a flexible working schedule would give employees more time with their families. At present, a normal working week is eight hours per day, five days per week. 

Ms Marin leads a centre-left coalition with four other parties, all are headed by women. Before becoming Prime Minister she held a position as the Minister of Transport for Finland. As Minister of Transport Ms Marin was vocally in favour of shorter working weeks as a benefit for employee rapport and productivity. 

Commenting on the new proposal the Prime Minister said, “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.”

Li Andersson - the leader of the Left Alliance and minister of education - greeted the proposal with enthusiasm saying, “It is important to allow Finnish citizens to work less. It is not a question of governing with a feminine style but offering help and keeping promises to voters.” 

The six-hour-day working day was trialled in 2015 in Sweden and results revealed happier, wealthier and more productive employees.

Source: Mail Online

Sanna Marin - Finland's new Prime Minister - has called for a more flexible working schedule, comprised of a four-day working week and a six-hour working day, to be introduced, Mail Online reports.

The Prime Minister said a flexible working schedule would give employees more time with their families. At present, a normal working week is eight hours per day, five days per week. 

Ms Marin leads a centre-left coalition with four other parties, all are headed by women. Before becoming Prime Minister she held a position as the Minister of Transport for Finland. As Minister of Transport Ms Marin was vocally in favour of shorter working weeks as a benefit for employee rapport and productivity. 

Commenting on the new proposal the Prime Minister said, “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.”

Li Andersson - the leader of the Left Alliance and minister of education - greeted the proposal with enthusiasm saying, “It is important to allow Finnish citizens to work less. It is not a question of governing with a feminine style but offering help and keeping promises to voters.” 

The six-hour-day working day was trialled in 2015 in Sweden and results revealed happier, wealthier and more productive employees.

Source: Mail Online