Reorganizing work based on employee needs is a necessity that can no longer be put off.. More and more companies are noticing this and, in order to cope with the “big layoffs” phenomenon, they are trying to promote hybrid forms of work, introduced during the pandemic and partially continued in 2022 in order to save energy. This time, however, the topic is no longer, or rather, not only economic, but also sociological. Workers have stopped equating their professional success with personal success and no longer want to spend most of the day in the office. Employees, especially younger ones, value their time more and, given the choice, want to spend it with family, friends, traveling or taking courses.. It’s about changing priorities and striving for greater independence. The Italians are well aware that, compared to the rest of Europe, they work the hardest.
According to Eurostat, 9.4% of workers in Bel Paez (about 2 million out of 23) devote almost 50 hours a week to their work, compared to the usual 40 hours (8 hours a day for 5 days). This figure is well above the European average of 7%. We are overtaken by the French workers with 10.2%. But the top is reached in Greece: 12.6%. In Romania this figure drops to 2.2%, in Bulgaria to 0.7%. Too many hours for wages that are among the lowest in the eurozone. What solution? “Work less, work everything” was the historic slogan of 1968, which may now be making a comeback with the adoption of a widely sponsored short work week that has sparked heated debate and success in the UK. To the point that 18 of the 60 companies that conducted the experiment decided to introduce it as a permanent practice.
In Italy, only two companies are engaged in such projects – Gruppo Intesa and Lavazza. they restructured the work for four days of 9 hours each for the same salary. However, soon something may change after the February appeal of the CISL, suggesting a reduction of 1/5 of working hours for the same salary. “I am ready to reflect on reality,” said the Minister of Enterprise and Production in Italy, Adolfo Urso. “Everything must be aligned with wise industrial policies in order to increase productivity and employment.” Opening also by industrialists in the person of Confindustria President Carlo Bonomi. “We really want to sit down and think, but not ideologically, otherwise job opportunities and employment in Italy will be in crisis.” In short, the issue is on the table, it is hoped that we will not wait too many years to resolve it.
Source: Elle