Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis claimed that the new law was necessary to address the shrinking population and skilled worker shortage, the Guardian reported.
A six-day week could improve productivity in the short term but not the long run, according to Vicky Walker, group director of people at Westfield Health.
She told HR magazine: “A six-day work week might boost short-term productivity due to the increase in the number of hours, but in the long term, it runs the risk of increasing presenteeism.
“Employees who are being overworked without adequate measures in place to protect their wellbeing could be more prone to errors, have decreased motivation and lower overall engagement.”
The Greek government claimed that the new legislation would address unpaid overtime and undeclared work.
It is to be applied to employees who work at private businesses that provide round-the-clock services. Those employees are due to be given the option to work either an extra two hours a day or another eight-hour shift. The extra work is to be rewarded with a 40% top-up fee on top of employees’ daily wages.
The Guardian also reported that resistance to the new Greek law included criticism that it left too much open to interpretation by employers.
Read more: Employees work 19 million days unpaid overtime a month
“Greece’s plan to ‘turbocharge productivity’ is wholly misguided," said Molly Johnson-Jones, co-founder and CEO of flexible companies directory, Flexa.
Speaking to HR magazine, she suggested that a six-day week would undercut workers' ability to decide their own working hours.
She said: "The four-day week trial taught us that 32-hour weeks can be as productive as 40-hour weeks.
“Companies and countries alike continue to obsess over the number of days and hours that staff spend at their desks as a measure of output. This approach risks incentivising the wrong behaviours.
“Giving workers autonomy is key. In other words, if people want to work more days – whether that be five days instead of four, or six days instead of five – they should be able to choose roles that enable them to do so.”
Walker added that policies introduced to improve productivity should consider the impact on employees’ wellbeing and satisfaction.
“A holistic and clear approach that prioritises employee wellbeing and satisfaction is crucial for the long-term success of any policy. We know that happy, healthy employees are more productive. Workplace culture will play a big role in that," she continued.
“Any new working arrangements must take into consideration the potential impact on employee wellbeing. That will look different for different people. For instance, for working parents or employees who are carers, flexibility and childcare support are essential.
"Increasing working hours without offering the necessary support could lead to an increase in burnout, presenteeism and reduced motivation.”
Read more: Four-day week continued by most trial participants
Research by workforce management system ProTime in May 2024 revealed that UK employees work 19 million days of overtime per month.
While Greece has introduced a six-day week, in the UK, the Green Party has promised it would implement a four-day working week if it were to win the next election.
The largest four-day work week trial in the UK was deemed a success, as 100% of participants reported that the trial had a positive impact on the wellbeing and retention of their employees a year on. Six months into the trial 71% of participants said that a four-day week had reduced their levels of burnout.
To measure the success of schemes to improve productivity, employers should measure employees’ output rather than their working hours, Johnson-Jones noted.
“If those in charge want workforces to thrive, we should have nothing to worry about,” she said. “All the evidence shows that the way to do this is to measure performance based on output, and empower workers to find roles that align with their individual needs and preferences.”
