Vietnam not ready for 4-day workweek

After a successful trial, Indonesia's Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises launched a voluntary four-day workweek program called the "Compressed Work Schedule." Employees work 10 hours a day instead of the usual eight and five days a week while maintaining the same level of productivity.

Unlike a reduced workweek, this model keeps total working hours and pay unchanged.

The four-day workweek is not new. It stems from the "leisure society" concept, first discussed in industrialized nations in the 1960s and 1970s.

Interest surged after the Covid-19 pandemic, as businesses adopted technology to sustain productivity while adjusting to remote work and shorter schedules.

Over 20 countries, including Poland, Canada, Spain, Germany, the U.S., the U.K., Japan, and South Korea, have implemented or tested some form of a four-day workweek.

In Australia, Green Party Senator Barbara Pocock recently proposed a National Four-Day Workweek Institute to test shorter full-time schedules. She argued that Australians deserve an extra fixed day off per week without a pay cut, saying it would lead to "happier, better-rested and more productive workers."

Japan is also addressing workplace stress and burnout. From April 2025 civil servants will have three-day weekends, allowing parents more time for childcare and potentially boosting birth rates.

Early results are promising.

A 2023 study by the University of Cambridge researchers in the U.K. found that a four-day workweek improved employee health. Of 61 participating companies, 56 saw revenues rise by an average of 1.4%.

In Iceland, a four-year trial ultimately led to 90% of workers keeping the same pay while working fewer hours.

A man is working in an office. Illustration photo by Pexels

But a compressed work schedule is not suitable for every industry.

Consulting and customer service businesses, which rely on client interactions, could struggle since clients may need assistance on the additional day off.

Not all countries can adopt this model. Most trialing it are developed economies, and many are still in early testing phases.

Surveys in Vietnam and abroad show rising demand for a four-day workweek to improve work-life balance.

Flexa, a job-search platform, analyzed 9,360 job ads, 2.7 million searches, and 27,880 worker preferences from January to November 2023. Interest in four-day workweeks increased by 68%, making it a top 2024 trend. A February 2023 Milieu Insight survey found that 78% of Vietnamese respondents supported shorter workweeks.

Vietnam faces major challenges in adopting this policy. Many businesses are small or labor-intensive, and efficiency in management, technology use and process optimization remains low.

Most importantly, labor productivity in Vietnam is not yet on par with global standards.

Every country wants to improve its citizens' mental health, quality of life and productivity, and Vietnam is no exception. But how can Vietnam achieve that?

Flexible work models like remote work, hybrid setups and remote-first structures can help employees balance work and personal life while maintaining productivity.

Companies must recognize that shorter workweeks alone will not drive success—they need smarter work strategies.

Some industries, like crisis management, public relations and media, require workers to be available 24/7.

When companies prioritize hours worked over performance, employee engagement and productivity drop.

A better approach is to give employees more control over their schedules. Managers should assess employees based on performance and adjust communication strategies accordingly.

Ultimately, the success of a four-day workweek depends on trust and transparency between employers and employees.

Encouragingly, more businesses in Vietnam and globally are prioritizing employee well-being.

If Vietnamese companies embrace technology, streamline operations and improve management, shorter workweeks could become a reality.

A well-supported workforce is more engaged, leading to long-term business success.

*Nguyen Thi Hong Chi works at the faculty of communication, Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture.