Will Toyota Implement a Four-Day Work Week?
Toyota may become the latest Japanese company to implement a flexible work schedule.
By Alyssa Pearl Fusek
There’s a worldwide push for more flexible work systems, spurred by labor shortages and the pandemic. And if there’s one work culture that desperately needs a revamp, it’s Japan’s. With death by overwork stirring up anger and talk of work reforms paired with a weakening yen, some corporations are rethinking how they operate, including automaker giant Toyota.
On June 28th, Toyota announced it would look into implementing a four-day workweek system covering 38,000 technical employees and administrative staff. The company also plans to abolish the minimum two-hour per workday requirement in favor of “zero hour” workdays that would make it easier for employees to take time off.
Working smarter, not harder
Interest in broader alternative work systems peaked during the pandemic when many companies switched to hybrid or remote work. The government’s 2021 annual economic policy included a proposal to increase four-day workweek and other flextime work options. Hitachi, Panasonic, and…
