Local authorities in Pforzheim contemplate implementing a condensed four-day work week schedule.
Stadtwerke Pforzheim, a municipal utility company in Germany, has announced plans to test a four-day work week model starting from January 2024. The decision comes after a collaborative effort between the company's management, human resources, and the SWP works council.
The four-day work week model is not exclusive to long-serving employees but is also intended for future hires. If the model is well received and all processes continue to run smoothly, it is planned to be introduced for all employees. This move is seen as a "deep appreciation for the work done in recent years" by the city utilities.
The new working time model will be implemented through two free workdays in a four-week period. This change will reduce the weekly working time from 39 hours to approximately 37 hours, and employees will receive their current monthly salary due to full salary compensation. As a result, the hourly wage will effectively increase.
During the development process, employees had the opportunity to express concerns and wishes, contributing to the final version of the model. The free workday will be determined in consultation with the respective team to ensure supply security. The free workdays will cover all workdays.
Ulrike Adam, head of human resources and services at Stadtwerke Pforzheim, explains that the new four-day week model is not only intended for long-serving employees but also for future ones. The SWP CEO, Herbert Marquard, shares this sentiment, expressing that the four-day week is an expression of deep appreciation for the work done in recent years.
It is important to note that while Stadtwerke Pforzheim has demonstrated the expansion of mobile work in 2021, allowing for 100% mobile work where possible, the four-day work week pilot project is a separate initiative. For comprehensive details about the pilot project, including its objectives, benefits, and implementation plan, you may need to consult official Stadtwerke Pforzheim communications or wait for coverage by local media or trade publications.
While there are no widely publicized or detailed reports about a four-day work week pilot project by Stadtwerke Pforzheim in the search results or known sources up to June 2024, if such a project has been announced or is underway recently (mid-2025), detailed information has not yet been indexed or shared widely online as per the provided data.
- Stadtwerke Pforzheim's four-day work week model, commencing in January 2024, is not limited to long-time employees but extends to new hires as well.
- The reduction in weekly working hours from 39 to 37 under the new model will lead to an effective hourly wage increase due to full salary compensation.
- In addition to the long-serving employees, the four-day work week at Stadtwerke Pforzheim is seen as an expression of deep appreciation for the work done by all employees in recent years.
