Work: Company boss gives employees a free Wednesday every week

Created: 07/28/2022, 12:00 p.m

By: Judith Brown

A German entrepreneur introduces in his company what is already being demonstrated in Spain and Belgium: the four-day week.

A meaningful gift.

Only work four days a week and still get the same salary?

A dream for many employees in Germany.

But not all entrepreneurs still think the five-day week, which has been practiced for more than 50 years, makes sense.

Tobias Groten, head of the software company "Tobit.Software" in Ahaus, has been giving his around 150 employees every Wednesday off since the end of June.

They do not have to work another day to do this, nor is anything deducted from their wages.

Groten wants to give its employees more time to relax, do something for their health, be creative and be there for the family.

Work: Company boss explains why employees have every Wednesday off

Get a day off every week?

This dream came true for employees of a German company.

(Iconic image) © Giorgio Fochesato/IMAGO

In his plea for a four-day week, published by

, the entrepreneur explains that, in his opinion, people in a wealthy country like Germany lack time.

“In the past decades we have managed to be economically independent.

Thanks to digitization, we have access to all the knowledge in the world.

At work we are increasingly supported by technological helpers.

But what feels more like less than more is time.”

The corona pandemic was even an amplifier here.

According to this, the merging of the two areas of work and private life in the home office means that people have more and more got caught in a “digital hamster wheel”.

Employees usually sat in front of the screen the whole working day and networked digitally with friends and acquaintances in the evening or pursued other activities such as online sports courses.

However, this makes it increasingly difficult to switch off and relax after work.

This is mostly only possible on the days off, says Groten.

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Company boss gives employees a day off every week – for health and creativity

Some people suggest that employees simply have to be less on their smartphones on their own responsibility and do something for their "work-life balance".

However, the head of the company doesn't think much of demanding that now.

After all, behavior during the pandemic warned many companies of an economic catastrophe.

Instead, he thinks it would be appropriate to advertise a four-day week with the slogan “Wednesdays belong to mom and dad to me, their health and their creativity”.

Based on the 1950s: the trade unions used the slogan “Saturdays belong to me” to advertise a five-day week after the average working week was 48 hours.

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The world of work has been changed by digitization.

Therefore, the company wants to adapt to change and decided to do something different.

"Everyone in our team gets a free day off.

Without consideration.

Without any obligation.

To sleep in, enjoy life, meet people.

To do something for the head, for the body – for oneself or for others,” explains Groten.

According to a British study, working just eight hours a week is optimal for increasing well-being.

His company can afford it economically and culturally and is therefore in a privileged situation.

He also sees many advantages in reducing working hours: "It's quite possible that we not only work in a more focused and fresher way, but also at a faster pace without overheating.

Then the additional day off will even benefit the company.”

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.