working hours

Economy

Why and where are weekly working hours dropping in Europe?

The amount of time spent at work across Europe is declining. Scholars attribute this trend to the rise in part-time employment and a higher proportion of women in work.

13/06/2025

Europe in Motion

Working week: Where in Europe people clock the most and least hours?

The average across the EU is 36 hours. How does your country compare?

30/05/2025

Work

Spain moves forward with plans to shorten the 40-hour working week

The bill to reduce the current workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours for over 12 million people will now be put to the Spanish parliament for approval.

07/05/2025

Green News

Can a four day work week shrink your carbon footprint?

Working four days a week gives people 50 per cent more free time and helps drive down their carbon emissions too.

29/01/2025

Europe in Motion

Overworked: Which Europeans have the longest working week?

EU citizens work an average of 36 hours a week, but the rate is much higher in some countries.

30/12/2024

Work

New four-day week plans announced in the US. This is how it would work

US senator Bernie Sanders has put forward a bill that would give workers an extra day off at the weekend, cutting the 40-hour workweek to just 32.

18/03/2024

Europe News

Deal on platform workers, after previous agreement fell apart

The agreed text strikes a balance between respecting national labour law and ensuring minimum standards of protection, the council said.

11/03/2024

Travel News

Frankfurt and Hamburg: No departures from major airports due to strike

How to find out if your flight or train is cancelled and how to rebook or get a refund.

05/03/2024

Work

Which countries are embracing a 4-day workweek and how is it going?

Germany has become the latest testing ground for a four-day week with a new pilot project involving 45 companies starting in February. Where else has tried it?

02/02/2024

Finland

'Mafia' strikes bring Finland to a standstill

Unions have called the industrial action to protest government proposals on labour law reforms which they say would adversely impact low-wage earners

01/02/2024

Work

Millions could be working a four-day week by 2033 thanks to AI

Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into workflows could mean we work less for the same pay, according to the think tank Autonomy.

20/11/2023

Work

Valencia’s four-day week trial results in less stress and more sleep

The trial only ran for a month, but the results show overwhelming benefits for employee health and wellbeing.

31/10/2023

Work

Average working hours in Europe: Who works the most and the least?

The average hours worked per week in Europe vary widely. Countries with higher part-time workers, in particular, reported shorter average workweeks.

22/07/2023

Affiliate content

Portugal follows other EU countries in trying on a 4-day work week

Partner content presented by Jobbio

Portugal is embarking on a 6-month trial of a shorter workweek, in the hopes it will help motivate employees and attract new talent.

06/07/2023

Work

Teachers' wages: How do countries in Europe compare?

Teachers across Europe have gone on strike in the past year for better pay and working conditions. We look at the differences in salaries.

05/07/2023

Climate

Spain to ban outdoor work during periods of extreme heat

The government has allocated €2 billion to ease the impact of extreme heat and drought on farmers and water supplies.

12/05/2023

Work

Majority of companies in UK four-day week trial keep shorter week

The results of the biggest ever four-day week trial show the majority of companies saw their business performance and productivity maintained high.

21/02/2023

Affiliate content

Is your job becoming 'productivity theatre'?

Partner content presented by Jobbio

Studies show remote employees are working harder than ever. But some bosses don’t believe them.

26/01/2023

Work

Spain probes 'Big Four' consultancy firms over excessive working hours

Some employees claim they were were forced to work up to 16 hours per day for Deloitte, PwC, EY and KPMG.

24/01/2023

Affiliate content

Here are the perks of a four-day week for European companies

Partner content presented by Jobbio

As trials of a four-day work week pick up steam across Europe, we look at the benefits of working less.

11/01/2023