Archinect - News

Belgium approves four-day workweek and other worker protection measures

2022-02-16T15:29:00-05:00

Workers in Belgium will soon be able to choose a four-day week under a series of labour market reforms announced on Tuesday. The reform package agreed by the country's multi-party coalition government will also give workers the right to turn off work devices and ignore work-related messages after hours without fear of reprisal.

Belgium’s new labor reforms aim to improve the work-life balance of employees in both the public and private sectors. Workers in the gig economy will receive stronger legal protections and full-time employees will be able to work more flexible schedules. As reported by Euronews, employees will be able to request to work four days a week for a period of six months. Following this, they could choose to continue the arrangement of return to a five-day week.

Previously on Archinect: Revisiting the 4-day work week in architecture

In Belgium’s new model, the 38-hour working week would be condensed into four days, with the additional day off compensating for the longer workdays. In addition, workers will be able to request variable work schedules, and companies will be required to provide work schedules at least seven days in advance. The draft legislation must now pass multiple readings by federal lawmakers before being enacted.

Revisiting the 4-day work week in architecture

2019-11-05T15:25:00-05:00

With many corporations introducing alternative work weeks, some have begun to explore the idea of a 4-day work week in architecture. In a previous post titled, Can the 4-Day Workweek Become a Thing? many Archinectors jumped in to contribute their thoughts regarding the subject. whistler said:

"I have been running an office for 25 years and we have done a 4 day ( 10 hr days ) work week for 20 years. We work on residential / commercial and industrial projects and have no problem managing the projects. It's more about managing the clients that is the issue, once they are aware they have no issue generally going along with the flow of who is in the office and who is not in. Of course I am in everyday but hopefully look to check out a bit more often as I edge closer to retirement."

Just yesterday, OneLostArchitect, posted in the discussion forum concerning the topic, referencing an article at The Conversation that explores John McDonnell's announcement that the British Labour Party wo...

Can the 4-Day Workweek Become a Thing?

2019-08-05T20:24:00-04:00

In organizations in which a shorter workweek has been implemented, nearly two-thirds (64%) of leaders reported increases in staff productivity and work quality due to a reduction of sick days and overall increased well-being. Another benefit to well-being, respondents noted, was the reduction of commutes. One less day at work helps make the weekly commute more bearable.

Alternative work schedules have been a topic of discussion for quite some time now, especially in European countries. Could this model work well in the architecture industry? Looking to other industries may provide some insights.

"In organizations in which a shorter workweek has been implemented, nearly two-thirds (64%) of leaders reported increases in staff productivity and work quality due to a reduction of sick days and overall increased well-being. Another benefit to well-being...was the reduction of commutes," write Ben Laker and Thomas Roulet, both organizational business leaders.

While the benefits are broad, the setbacks are also. Leaders have brought up concerns with this new approach with aspects like, "regulations regarding work contracts, and the associated bureaucracy to implement the four-day week, as well as challenges around staffing." This coupled with the fact that some workers expressed concern "regarding the way they will be seen by their peers and superiors" fo...