KADUNA’S FOUR-DAY WORKING WEEK

There is need to exercise caution

The Kaduna State government recently commenced a four-day work week transition in a compressed arrangement that enables public employees, other than those in schools and health facilities, to work from Monday to Thursday and take Friday off. The state government stated that this new policy will allow workers to spend more time with their families, boost productivity and improve work life balance. While we have nothing against the idea, we nonetheless counsel that its benefits and side effects be properly evaluated before it is rubber stamped as a policy.

A four-day work week trial is not new having been adopted by many countries during the COVID-19 lockdown when workers showed interest in flexible work arrangements rather than returning to status quo. Spain announced a voluntary nationwide three-year trial of a 32-hour work week, while New Zealand and Japan’s annual economic policy guidelines each proposed a four-day work week as a consideration. In 2019, Microsoft of Japan had a three-day weekend trial. The trial was successful as Microsoft Japan reported 40 per cent productivity gains and other increases such as 23 per cent electricity savings.

In like manner, the British Think Tank, Autonomy, and the Icelandic Association for Sustainable Democracy, carried out two trials in Iceland in 2019. Following the test, they reported a dramatic increase in wellbeing, in addition to no decline in productivity or service as well as improved work like balance and sheer ratings from employees after working hours were reduced to 35 hours a week without pay reduction for 2,500 workers. Afterwards, the Japanese government in 2021 drew an economic guideline that proposed that countries should allow their workers to opt for a four-day work week as part of initiative aimed at improving work life balance in the country.

Also, a trial conducted by the US state of Utah for government employees showed a significant ecological impact from reducing the average work week from five to four days using a compressed work schedule. During the first 10 months, the project saved $1.8 million energy costs and a reduction of at least 6,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from closing the large office building on Friday. The report said that if employees’ commutes were also included, Utah estimated that it could save 12,000 metric tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of removing 2,300 cars off the road for one year, simply by working one day less a week.

However, despite these benefits, a four-day work week has its downside that calls for caution before becoming the new order in our climes. One drawback is that it can be difficult as it requires the support of the right technology and workplace culture. Another disadvantage is that it leads to less work overall and makes vital and urgent services unavailable for customers. There is also an argument that the Kaduna State government may unconsciously be granting its workers a license to procreate and worsen the country’s over-population burden. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged Kaduna workers not to celebrate the introduction of a four-day working week by the state government until they are convinced that there is no hidden agenda.

Whatever may be the merit of the idea, our greatest concern is that there are far more pressing challenges in the state than that of how many idle hours are available to workers in the public sector who are not known to be very productive. The sub-national authority in Kaduna should therefore be more concerned about improving security in the state, rather than dwelling on a policy that may not necessarily advance the interest of the people.