Does Canada have a 4 day work week?
When will Canada have a 4 day work week?
Nathan Vatcher, of 4 Day Work Week Canada, explains Canada’s history with the 4 day work week movement
The 32-hour, 4 day work week labor movement continues to gain traction and media attention throughout Canada, although not as fast as many would like.
Canada has not yet seen its major unions bring it up during collective bargaining nor has Canada seen its major political parties start fruitful discussions on creating legislation to make the 32 hours the new full-time.
Currently, progressive and forward-thinking private sector firms are gaining attention with their trials, with the public sector watching.
What’s happening with the 4 day week in Canada?
Canada adopts a lot of American hustle culture, hence the move to a shorter working week with no loss in pay is a challenge. However, we are starting to see younger generations raise the awareness of the 4 day work week in their workplace to management and senior leaders.
Established organizations like 4 Day Week Global have aided with the credibility of this labor movement in Canada, providing support to firms and organizations wishing to trial it for their teams.
The trial results and metrics prove how a shorter work week can improve both employee satisfaction and productivity as well as remedy employee retention, turnover and recruitment in a competitive labor market.
Why should Canada be interested in the 4 day work week?
Burnout rates within the Canadian workforce are now at an all-time high with compounding mental health crises and sky-rocketing sick leave rates. These crises are making the productivity and health of the Canadian workforce in jeopardy of competing with other G7 and G20 nations moving forward.
Every month, a new Canadian business or organization gains media attention with their adoption of a shorter work week as the story is shared around various social media platforms and media outlets.
Many Canadians are envious of European countries who take more of a ‘work to live’ approach rather than North America’s ‘live to work’ culture. They wish for better vacation policies, which are often at the behest of the employer.
Most provinces and territories in Canada have a minimum of 10-days holiday days per year for an employee, but this often doesn’t apply to hourly workers.
Canada also has 9 to 10 statutory public holidays, which either garner you a paid day off (usually a long weekend) or time and a half hourly wage if you are required to work.
Is the 4 day work week legal in Canada?
Canada’s ten provinces and three territories makes it a nation of varied cultures with complex federal, provincial and municipal governments. The various levels of governments, which all have roles in dictating labor law, make legislation for the 32-hour work week feasible, but complicated.
Getting this enacted will require all three levels of government to work together, alongside unions, advocacy groups and the general public.
What is next for Canada’s 4 day work week?
The 4 Day Work Week Canada campaign, founded in early 2022, continues to advocate for the adoption of the 32-hour 4 day work week with no loss in pay. As time goes on, many believe this will become the new standard in Canadian labor law.
How can I contribute to the 4 day week movement?
So, how can we ensure the 4 day work week becomes routine over radical? We’re a non-profit organization looking to bring the 4 day week to as many people across the globe as possible. Our goal is to create a million years of new free time through 4 day week trials and transitions.
Would you like to sponsor us on this journey? Donate as little as $2 per month to become a part of this movement for a 4 Day World.
How can I improve my business with a 4 day week?
We offer support for businesses looking to make the shift to reduced-hour working in several ways:
1. Our Foundation Course
Our Foundation Course is designed for business leaders, consultants and entrepreneurs looking to understand how to implement a 4 day week in their organization, or to support the implementation of one in another organization.
We teach you through six video lecture modules, using the 100-80-100™ model.
2. Our Pilot Programs
We run 4 day week pilots using the 100-80-100™ principle across the globe. You can trial a 4 day week alongside other organizations in your geography. There are many pilots happening in various countries across the world.
Sign up here to register your interest in being a part of one of our pilots and we will let you know when the pilot in your country is kicking off! Alternatively, we have two global pilots happening in 2024, in March and September.
3. One-on-One Consulting
This is for larger organizations who want bespoke one-on-one support throughout the 4 day week planning and implementation process. We will provide you with world-leading experts in reducing working hours to help you on this journey.
