Poland to launch shorter working week pilot programme

trophy33 · Jun 26, 2025

Soon, some Polish employees may have the opportunity to work six hours a day, enjoy a three-day weekend or take additional days of – leave without reducing their salary.

The programme will allow businesses, local authorities, foundations and trade unions to voluntarily test a shorter working week by either reducing working hours each day, extending the weekend to three days, or providing more annual leave days.

Regardless of the chosen method, participating organisations will have to maintain current salaries and staff numbers.

Sześć godzin pracy dziennie i trzydniowy weekend? Nowy pilotaż, który może zmienić polskie firmy

Już niebawem część polskich pracowników może zyskać możliwość pracy w wymiarze sześciu godzin dziennie, cieszyć się trzydniowym weekendem lub korzystać z dodatkowych dni urlopu – bez obniżenia wyna...

businessinsider.com.pl

https://notesfrompoland.com/2025/04/29/poland-to-launch-a-shorter-work-week-pilot-programme/

Gregory Thompson · Jun 26, 2025

trophy33 said:
Soon, some Polish employees may have the opportunity to work six hours a day, enjoy a three-day weekend or take additional days of – leave without reducing their salary.

The programme will allow businesses, local authorities, foundations and trade unions to voluntarily test a shorter working week by either reducing working hours each day, extending the weekend to three days, or providing more annual leave days.

Regardless of the chosen method, participating organisations will have to maintain current salaries and staff numbers.

Sześć godzin pracy dziennie i trzydniowy weekend? Nowy pilotaż, który może zmienić polskie firmy

Już niebawem część polskich pracowników może zyskać możliwość pracy w wymiarze sześciu godzin dziennie, cieszyć się trzydniowym weekendem lub korzystać z dodatkowych dni urlopu – bez obniżenia wyna...

businessinsider.com.pl

https://notesfrompoland.com/2025/04/29/poland-to-launch-a-shorter-work-week-pilot-programme/

That kind of thing really only works for management personnel, limiting the number of days worked does make a difference for them. However, for regular workers, the extra day off wouldn't be the same day every week.

In North America, the employers would look at the data as a means to reduce hours, but not pay the same amount.

trophy33 · Jun 26, 2025

Gregory Thompson said:
That kind of thing really only works for management personnel, limiting the number of days worked does make a difference for them. However, for regular workers, the extra day off wouldn't be the same day every week.

Regular workers can also choose whether to work only 4 days a week or only 6 hours a day instead of 8 hours or if they want more paid leave. Whichever one will fit their needs and preferences.

Gregory Thompson · Jun 26, 2025

trophy33 said:
Regular workers can also choose whether to work only 4 days a week or only 6 hours a day instead of 8 hours or if they want more paid leave.

I get the sense this would only work in Europe.

trophy33 · Jun 26, 2025

Gregory Thompson said:
I get the sense this would only work in Europe.

Difficult to say, whether it will work in Poland. They will test it and then they will evaluate the results.

But with the AI and automation in basically all working positions, it is logical the way we work should change and grant us more free time.

bèlla · Jun 26, 2025

trophy33 said:
But with the AI and automation in basically all working positions, it is logical the way we work should change and grant us more free time.

I don’t foresee American companies reducing hours with the same pay. I’ve noticed a shorter workweek in some industries but the salary is adjusted. Automation isn’t designed to give workers more free time. It’s a cost saving mechanism for companies. The more Ai can do the less they’ll have to pay. The bigger question you should be asking is how to make up the difference. Where will the money come home?

~bella

trophy33 · Jun 26, 2025

bèlla said:
I don’t foresee American companies reducing hours with the same pay. I’ve noticed a shorter workweek in some industries but the salary is adjusted. Automation isn’t designed to give workers more free time. It’s a cost saving mechanism for companies. The more Ai can do the less they’ll have to pay. The bigger question you should be asking is how to make up the difference. Where will the money come home?

~bella

I do not live in America, so American system is not too relevant for me. In Europe, we prefer the balance between work and health/free time etc.

If we can produce the same amount of services or products in less time thanks to AI or automation, then I am for a shorter work week with the same salary (or with the same standard of living, said generally). If the automation will grow exponentially, we can even produce more and more while working less and less.

bèlla · Jun 26, 2025

trophy33 said:
I do not live in America, so American system is not too relevant for me. In Europe, we prefer the balance between work and health/free time etc.

Ai will impact many countries including europe. They’ve discussed it for quite some time and universal basic income at WEF. While there’s nothing definitive thus far; each country will have its own version. But since it’s motivated by greed I don’t view it positively and there will be a catch. Programmable with an expiration date are common features being suggested.

~bella

BCP1928 · Jun 26, 2025

bèlla said:
I don’t foresee American companies reducing hours with the same pay. I’ve noticed a shorter workweek in some industries but the salary is adjusted. Automation isn’t designed to give workers more free time. It’s a cost saving mechanism for companies. The more Ai can do the less they’ll have to pay. The bigger question you should be asking is how to make up the difference. Where will the money come home?

~bella

Right. The effect of automation is to increase worker productivity. You are suggesting that the increased profit from from that increase in productivity should go to the company and not be shared with the workers.

Gregory Thompson · Jun 26, 2025

Whenever there is an industrial revolution, this results in less jobs for humans.

The shared sentiment I've observed from Europeans seems to be unique to that zone. Perhaps related to the laws and cultures.

trophy33 · Jun 26, 2025

bèlla said:
Ai will impact many countries including europe. They’ve discussed it for quite some time and universal basic income at WEF. While there’s nothing definitive thus far; each country will have its own version. But since it’s motivated by greed I don’t view it positively and there will be a catch. Programmable with an expiration date are common features being suggested.

~bella

I do not know what you think is motivated by greed, if workers can work less hours and keep or even grow the standard of living.

trophy33 · Jun 26, 2025

Gregory Thompson said:
Whenever there is an industrial revolution, this results in less jobs for humans.

Is this true, though? It results in the loss of jobs that are no longer needed. But never in less jobs "for humans". They just need to find another qualification.

Yes, there are not many jobs in coal mines anymore. But there are many new IT jobs, for example.

Landon Caeli · Jun 26, 2025

Work/life balance is very important in regards to quality of life. I know this as someone who oftentimes works more than 90 hours a week. But working 90 to 100 hours a week means a substantially large amount of money for those who are paid hourly.

...To deny me that 'boost' would be unfair and upsetting, especially when overtime is voluntary.

Gregory Thompson · Jun 26, 2025

trophy33 said:
Is this true, though? It results in the loss of jobs that are no longer needed. But never for less jobs "for humans". They just need to find another qualification.

I guess scrapping robots and selling their parts is a good adaptation.

trophy33 · Jun 26, 2025

Gregory Thompson said:
I guess scrapping robots and selling their parts is a good adaptation.

In the ideal world, hard, repetitive, boring work will be automated and humans can spend their time in creative, exploratory and similar jobs or hobbies.

BCP1928 · Jun 26, 2025

trophy33 said:
In the ideal world, hard, repetitive, boring work will be automated and humans can spend their time in creative, exploratory and similar jobs or hobbies.

The basic question is still the same: how will the wealth created by labor and capital be shared?

trophy33 · Jun 26, 2025

BCP1928 said:
The basic question is still the same: how will the wealth created by labor and capital be shared?

That is hard to predict, today. I guess it will take many public discussions, some experiments and maybe failures and then some fine tuning to find a sustainable way. Today's social welfare states were also not created overnight...

Landon Caeli · Jun 26, 2025

Traditionally, we need to see the failure before the fix (from automation). Nobody can play the prophet.

Gregory Thompson · Jun 26, 2025

trophy33 said:
In the ideal world, hard, repetitive, boring work will be automated and humans can spend their time in creative, exploratory and similar jobs or hobbies.

That sounds too ideal, considering how humans normally act.

trophy33 · Jun 26, 2025

Gregory Thompson said:
That sounds too ideal, considering how humans normally act.

It may sound too ideal today. But for example today's Scandinavian model or Swiss model would sound too ideal before, too.

Poland to launch shorter working week pilot programme

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