I work 4 days at Microsoft in Germany (PM at Github)
In Germany employees have the right to demand part time. for new hires it's usually 40h and then reduce after the probation period. might reduce your career growth but I still got promoted and am happy with Fridays off
Ask HN: Anyone working 4 day week here, as an employee?
31–40 of 271 posts
Re: Ask HN: Anyone working 4 day week here, as an employee?
#32I don't, however I am generally able to flex my days a lot due to working mostly from home and also being able to complete my work fairly quickly.
A lot of people at my employer do work different schedules though. Either 4 day weeks or compressed hours (9 longer days & one day off).
I think it's a cultural thing where the organisation recognises work is work and you also deserve a life on your terms.
All of us seem pretty happy with our setups...
Re: Ask HN: Anyone working 4 day week here, as an employee?
#33I used to work 4 days a week for some years. Used to hate Mondays, then I loved Mondays, and hated Tuesdays instead. Worked fine until the company changed direction and the work got too stressful, so I ended up quitting and retiring. It was an easy negotiation, we already had one guy taking every Wednesday off.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone working 4 day week here, as an employee?
#34I negotiated this year down to 36 hours, being 4 days of 9 hours and Wednesdays off. It’s amazing.
How to do it? I think it’s one of those things you can target on purpose.
Regarding my case, I have a good relationship with my superiors, I fulfill the goals which are put in front of me, team is happy etc, etc.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone working 4 day week here, as an employee?
#35I just recently started a 32 hour a week salaried job. Here’s my story. I was at a very good job. My ultimate goal is to just go to the beach and not work at all. I realized that’s too big of a leap, so I set a shorter term more realistic goal of working 4 days a week. My employer at the time rejected the idea, so instead of ignoring recruiters like usual, I answered them. If a job wasn’t immoral, the interview proce…
> My life is so good right now despite the world being terrible. The world is overwhelmingly amazing, not terrible. For the majority of people this is one of the best times to be alive in all of human history. Rivaled only by the years prior to the pandemic.
War, Deglobalization, Climate Change, Resource scarcity, Economic bubbles.
What the fuck are you on about, the world is olympic diving into the garbage heap.
Edit: If you downvote, please have the decency to explain your reasoning. Are you saying this opinion is incorrect? Why? It is to my understanding a race against time, when concerning climate change alone. One we are losing. Do you just dislike hearing about it?
Re: Ask HN: Anyone working 4 day week here, as an employee?
#36Yup, in switzerland. The work-life balance is amazing. I asked for it when negotiating the job offer, employer had to accept since there were no other candidates and I was a perfect fit. Tired of being the most knowledgeable person in the room though, so accepted a full-time position in the US I will change to soon.
Will you miss Switzerland?
Re: Ask HN: Anyone working 4 day week here, as an employee?
#37Yes. I’m a contractor at a large IT integrator in Australia. It helps that my boss was (see below) a good friend. I think it was mid-last-year, I just realised I’d be mentally healthier if I worked 4 days a week. So I said, I’m going to start working 4 days a week. And he said, okay. Because he’s great. And it is glorious . You go from spending almost three-quarters of your life at work (71.4%) to just over half (57.…
Bit if a tangent but I absolutely love the Johnny Decimal system so much. It has become my defacto way of sorting things now. Didn’t know the person who invented was Aussie too, very cool! Good luck with your job search.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone working 4 day week here, as an employee?
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
> My life is so good right now despite the world being terrible. The world is overwhelmingly amazing, not terrible. For the majority of people this is one of the best times to be alive in all of human history. Rivaled only by the years prior to the pandemic.
War, Deglobalization, Climate Change, Resource scarcity, Economic bubbles. What the fuck are you on about, the world is olympic diving into the garbage heap. Edit: If you downvote, please have the decency to explain your reasoning. Are you saying this opinion is incorrect? Why? It is to my understanding a race against time, when concerning climate change alone. One we are losing. Do you just dislike hearing about it?
As if none of that existed in the past?
Re: Ask HN: Anyone working 4 day week here, as an employee?
#39I just recently started a 32 hour a week salaried job. Here’s my story. I was at a very good job. My ultimate goal is to just go to the beach and not work at all. I realized that’s too big of a leap, so I set a shorter term more realistic goal of working 4 days a week. My employer at the time rejected the idea, so instead of ignoring recruiters like usual, I answered them. If a job wasn’t immoral, the interview proce…
> My life is so good right now despite the world being terrible. The world is overwhelmingly amazing, not terrible. For the majority of people this is one of the best times to be alive in all of human history. Rivaled only by the years prior to the pandemic.
No post body was provided.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone working 4 day week here, as an employee?
#40Yes, I have been working 4 days a week (80%) in Switzerland for ten years.
Here in Switzerland there are many job opportunities in different positions, from junior to very high positions, including engineering management.
Nowadays it is not uncommon for other colleagues to work 80% as well, especially if they have become parents.