Large Augsburg companies rely on the four-day week.
We spoke to a craft business, a machine builder and XXXL Lutz about the reasons.
Augsburg – The new working model of the future seems to be slowly catching on in the region.
More and more Augsburg companies are introducing the four-day week.
Employees should be more motivated and productive - that's the idea behind it.
And that with less working hours and the same salary.
Well-known companies of the working model are the handicraft company KlimaShop!
from Friedberg, the machine builder MBM Innovations and the furniture dealer XXXL Lutz from Augsburg.
As pioneers, they have different time models and are flexible in their time management.
The Friedberg company KlimaShop!
sometimes offering the employees a three-day week and then a five-day week again.
In general, the company has reduced working hours from 40 to 38 hours in a four-day week since January.
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The four-day week is becoming established among large companies in Bavaria.
© IMAGO / Rupert Oberhäuser, kolbert-press/Christian Kolbert, MBM innovations GmbH / Ingo Dumreicher photography, Fabian Fruehwirth/www.faf-presse
Study from Great Britain proves the advantages of a four-day week
In February, a study from Great Britain demonstrated the positive effects of a four-day week.
More than 60 companies tested the model.
In the end, there is a clear result: the employees are more motivated, rested and are absent less often.
The study agrees with the companies that offer their employees the four-day week or similar modern working time models.
The managing director of the Chamber of Crafts for Swabia Ulrich Wagner is concerned with the question of how craft companies can retain skilled workers given the thousand vacancies.
An attractive workplace today is defined not only by good pay, but also by appropriate working hours.
"The wishes of the employees for a work-life balance are to be taken seriously," says Wagner to our editors.
"Flexible working time models, more free time and at the same time a good salary will pay off in the long term for the companies that offer this.
It's good that such new paths are being taken in the trades."
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The managing directors Armin and Peter Spengler from KlimaShop!
have introduced the four-day week for their employees.
© kolbert-press/Christian Kolbert
More and more entrepreneurs in Augsburg are offering a four-day week
The heat pump specialist KlimaShop!
introduced the four-day week in early January 2023.
"We are also among the pioneers when it comes to flexible working hours," says managing director Peter Spengler to the Bayern editorial team at
Merkur.de
.
"Because we are convinced of the advantages of flexible working models."
"More free time is simply a megatrend in the world of work," says Spengler.
“We want our employees to be happy and motivated.
The young have more free time, others enjoy a day more with the family.” In addition, the company wants to set an example for the climate.
“Four days on duty instead of five reduce CO₂ emissions,” he emphasizes.
In addition, Spengler notices that his employees are more motivated and enjoy their work more.
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Sabrina Mayer-Mai and Julia Mayer are the third generation to manage the family business MBM innovations GmbH.
© MBM innovations GmbH / Ingo Dumreicher photography
Gratitude for the difficult work assignment during the pandemic
The Augsburg machine builder MBM Innovations GmbH has introduced the four-day week after a successful test phase.
"We have been dealing with new and flexible working models for a long time," Sabrina Mayer-Mai told our editorial team.
"Since we have many jobs in production, hybrid work with a home office is not possible for the majority of our employees.
Therefore, with the 4-day week, we wanted to offer our employees more flexibility and a better way to balance work and private life.”
After the difficult everyday work during the three years of the pandemic, the Mayer family wants to express their appreciation for their commitment by introducing the 4-day week.
At the same time, the company hopes to obtain qualified workers with the help of optimized working conditions.
The four-day week is very well received in the company.
The employees work an hour longer from Monday to Thursday to make up for the missing Friday, so the entire Friday is free.
"Using this additional time for yourself and private matters is real added value that everyone appreciates," says Mayer-Mai.
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Volker Michels explains why XXL Lutz has long relied on the four-day week.
© Fabian Fruehwirth/www.faf-presse
The four-day week as a successful tool for employee retention
For the
furniture dealer
XXXL Lutz
the four-day week model is not new.
This form has become firmly established at all of the company's locations.
"We offer this model in areas with a variable salary component," says spokesman Volker Michels.
"Like, for example, in furniture sales or in the area of kitchens - so deliberately not in all areas of the company."
XXL Lutz knows about the fact that leisure time is becoming more and more important to more and more people.
Added to this is the desire for more flexibility during the working week – especially in retail.
"If we want to attract good workers and their expertise, we, as an innovative employer, have to come up with appropriate models." The four-day week is a successful tool for employee loyalty.
In this way, XXL Lutz is perceived as an attractive employer on the market.
But the new working model is not only gaining ground in the Augsburg area.
The managing director of the Schongau company Osenstätter is also satisfied with the four-day week.
Since then, the wood and veneer company has received more applications.
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List of rubrics: © IMAGO / Rupert Oberhäuser, kolbert-press/Christian Kolbert, MBM innovations GmbH / Ingo Dumreicher photography, Fabian Fruehwirth/www.faf-presse
