While some countries contemplate shorter work weeks, Greece is heading in the opposite direction. Seeking to boost economic growth, the country recently passed a law allowing employers to implement a six-day work week, though the change is not mandatory. Greece faced a debt crisis in 2010, and its economy has long been among Europe’s laggards. As a member of the Eurozone, Greece doesn’t make its own monetary policy, explains Jean-Nicolas Reyt, Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour.

The potential for office work to be performed remotely has been evident since the advent of email and the web, but for decades, most employers allowed only very limited remote work. The pandemic let that genie out of the bottle and finally granted employees what many had been advocating for in vain, writes Associate Professor in Organizational Behaviour Jean-Nicholas Reyt in an opinion piece for the Montreal Gazette. The recent strike by the Public Service Alliance of Canada is a prime example of this sentiment.

One of the biggest names in tech thinks the move to fully remote work is a big mistake. According to Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, everyone needs to be together to create a cohesive and productive work environment. And that’s partly right, says Jean-Nicolas Reyt, an Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Desautels. “The vast majority of the economy has switched to hybrid work, and not fully remote,” says Reyt. “This allows people to better manage the interface between their work and personal lives.

The results are in, and the four-day work week isn’t only good for workers – companies like it too. In a six-month UK study, 61 employers trialed a 4-day work week that asked employees to perform the same work in less time, and at the end of the trial period, 92% of participating employers chose to make the shorter week permanent. “This is in line with previous study we’ve seen before,” said Prof. Jean-Nicolas Reyt to CBC Radio’s Cross-Country Checkup with Ian Hanomansing.

About a year ago, Poche et Fils conducted a trial of the four-day work week that has since become permanent. Employees at the Montreal-based clothing companies receive the same pay as when they were working five days a week, and the company has sought to maintain the same productivity too. The first step was identifying tasks that were time-consuming and useless -- and eliminating them. But there are other ways that a shorter work week can save time too. A new generation of workers is negotiating not on salary, but on hours, said Desautels Prof.

Across programs and subject areas, the Desautels Faculty of Management recognizes the vital role that teaching plays in enriching the student experience and in inspiring the next generation of leaders.

The Distinguished Teaching Award recipients Sujata Madan and Juan Serpa were honoured at McGill’s 2022 Management Convocation ceremony on June 1, for their excellence in teaching.