Analyses are underway on the introduction of a four-day work week, Chief Labor Inspector Marcin Stanecki said. He explained that the Central Institute for Labor Protection is to study for a year how the introduction of this solution will affect the number of accidents in the workplace and the employee's health.
– I have analysed all available sources regarding working time since the 19th century and I believe that the issue of shortening working time is a change that is undoubtedly ahead of us – assessed the head of PIP.
Four-day work week – comment by the head of PIP
He added that experts predict that in 2030, working time will be 15 hours. – And in 2050, repeating the words of Elon Musk, only those who want to will work – said Stanecki.
He informed that “serious analyses are underway on the introduction of a four-day work week” in Poland. – The Central Institute for Labor Protection is to study for a year how the introduction of this solution will affect the accident rate at work and the employee's health. In my opinion, this will be the answer to the question of whether we are ready for it – said the Chief Labor Inspector.
According to the head of PIP, research conducted by CIOP will allow for a reliable assessment of how this type of solution will affect employee productivity.
– Most scientific studies show that when it comes to shortening working hours, positives dominate. However, there are also reservations. During the studies, people achieved high productivity within four days, because they had three days off in the future, and they worked for a short time, because the study was short. We are able to work for three months at maximum speed, considering that we will work for a shorter time, but it is not known what will happen after three years, for example, whether people will still be able to work as hard – said Stanecki.
He emphasized that the dominant trend is, however, improving comfort. – In particular, attention is paid to sleep, because sleep disorders are the plague of the 21st century. Studies show that shortening working hours improves sleep, work-life balance, and family relationships – indicated the head of PIP.
Chief Labor Inspector on remote work
The increase in employee productivity can also be influenced by remote work. As stated by the Chief Labor Inspector, the regulations on remote work have proven to be very effective in the Polish reality.
– I worked on the remote work act while still at the Ministry of Family and Social Policy. This work lasted a very long time, over two years. In practice, it turned out that occasional remote work works best and there is a huge demand for it. Employees are happy to use it, and financial compensation plays a secondary role in this case – said Stanecki.
He noted that the National Labor Inspectorate does not receive many complaints regarding remote work. – In the case of remote work, we have a good solution: the employee signs a statement that they have been familiarized with the risk assessment and undertakes to comply with it. This is the employee's obligation to perform work in a safe manner – noted the Chief Labor Inspector.
He recalled that last year, one of the most frequently asked questions that reached the Ministry of Family concerned the possibility of remote work. – People wondered whether they could, for example, water their flowers or mow the lawn during a 15-minute break. Many people associated remote work with additional free time. Fortunately, this belief has changed a lot – said Stanecki.
He pointed out that currently, remote work most often takes a hybrid character. – It works great, many employers are happy with it. If I were to indicate any change, I would increase the limit of occasional remote work from 24 days a year to 36 days – said the head of PIP.
Sunday trading ban
In the public sphere, ideas for changing the law on the ban on Sunday trading are appearing. At the end of June, the Poland 2050 project, which allows for two Sundays of trade per month, was referred to the Sejm committee for work. At that time, the Sejm rejected the proposals PiS MPs and the Left to reject these solutions.
Stanecki pointed out that various proposals for changes are being put forward in this matter, often divergent. – I don't have a firm opinion on whether shops should be opened on Sundays or not. Why? On the one hand, I have children of student age who would be happy to work on Sundays because they want to earn money and become independent. On the other hand, I meet with shop assistants who ask me to do everything to avoid this work on Sundays, because they want to have time for their families – said the head of PIP.
He noted that if work in trade were to be restored, it should be “generously remunerated, e.g. double the hourly rate, and then people willing to do it will find themselves”.
He added that there are also demands from various groups to extend the solutions from the Sunday trading ban act to other industries, such as the catering industry. – We have a really big problem here, because there are many social expectations and they are often divergent, which is why it is difficult to decide on one good solution – emphasized Stanecki
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