How did you come up with the idea of the four-day week?
The idea came from two considerations. The first was the lack of skilled labour. While this is an issue that is currently much discussed, I’m not convinced that the shortage is as great as people purport. When I saw the number of job candidates lining up to join Google, Microsoft, and Deutsche Telekom because they are ‘cool’ companies, I thought companies also have to learn to be more attractive and become ‘cool.’ The second was about working time, which, especially since the pandemic, has become an extremely important factor for both employees and HR. It is a key issue for the new generations who are seeking more time and a better work-life balance.
As a Berlin correspondent for the French and Swiss press since the late 1990s, I cover a wide range of economic, political and social issues, with a particular focus on the German business and labour market. My areas of interest include co-determination, digitalisation, demographics and ESG/DEI policies.