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Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees

cnn.com

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Re: Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees

#11
post #3

I wish these stories would say if the hours are changing or not. 32 hours, 4 days a week seems better to me. But if all you do is take 40 hours and make it 10 hour days I’m not that much happier.

> But if all you do is take 40 hours and make it 10 hour days I’m not that much happier

One fewer day of needing to context-switch would be a major life improvement.

Re: Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees

#13
Would schools and childcare providers also have 4-day workweeks? I really appreciate that I have 5 days of childcare now, as I find it exhausting to be 24/7 parenting two lil kids for two days straight (the weekends). If the norm was 4-day workweeks, I would pay my nanny overtime for Fridays. And then yes, maybe I'd get chores done on Friday! Currently, chores just don't get done ever. :D

Re: Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees

#14

Better: work with families to alternate remote days so one parent stays home with the kids and no need for childcare service

Do you really think that being remote is "staying home with the kids"? You're physically in the same building as them, but either you're not really working, or your kids don't actually need an adult to be there because they are grown up anyway, so no childcare is needed because they go to school.

Re: Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees

#15
post #3

I wish these stories would say if the hours are changing or not. 32 hours, 4 days a week seems better to me. But if all you do is take 40 hours and make it 10 hour days I’m not that much happier.

From everyone I have ever known that was able to do the fewer days, even with same hours, it is still a game changer.

Re: Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees

#16

Would schools and childcare providers also have 4-day workweeks? I really appreciate that I have 5 days of childcare now, as I find it exhausting to be 24/7 parenting two lil kids for two days straight (the weekends). If the norm was 4-day workweeks, I would pay my nanny overtime for Fridays. And then yes, maybe I'd get chores done on Friday! Currently, chores just don't get done ever. :D

" It separately announced another policy that will allow parents with children in grades one to three in elementary schools to trade off a bit of their salary for the option to clock out early."

This is really nice, this was the option that I wanted for my first kid. I would want this from the day they were born though, not just grades 1-3. It helps with breastfeeding scheduling.

Re: Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees

#17

That sounds....huge. I know many working couples where one would probably take that in a heartbeat. You lose some money, but gain more family time and sanity. Having Friday to finish chores and being able to enjoy the weekend unstressed is huge, not to mention clocking out early each day to be able to pick up your kid and not have to get back to work or whatever.

Yep, completely agree. After having our kid both me and my wife work 80% so we have one extra day at home. Huge.

Re: Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees

#18
Japan is forecast to still have 50 million people in 2120. I wouldn't call this a population crisis. With some rewilding it could be quite pleasant! I suspect companies are afraid of not growing, and governments are afraid to cut spending.

Source: https://www.jcer.or.jp/english/new-population-projection-how...

Re: Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees

#19
post #3

I wish these stories would say if the hours are changing or not. 32 hours, 4 days a week seems better to me. But if all you do is take 40 hours and make it 10 hour days I’m not that much happier.

Curious how this plays out and comments from anyone who works there now. From what I've read about Japanese work culture, there are many perks/benefits offered but most do not take it cause it's considered selfish etc.

Re: Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees

#20

Japan is forecast to still have 50 million people in 2120. I wouldn't call this a population crisis. With some rewilding it could be quite pleasant! I suspect companies are afraid of not growing, and governments are afraid to cut spending. Source: https://www.jcer.or.jp/english/new-population-projection-how...

It's not about the amount of people but your population pyramid. If your population halves, expect a lot of pain. Especially for the elderly.
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