4-day week

WENZEL launches new working time model: 4-day week in production

Wiesthal — WENZEL Group GmbH & Co. KG introduced a 4-day week in production at its headquarters in Wiesthal at the beginning of the year. With the new working time model, the globally active mechanical engineering company is a pioneer in its sector and in the region. 

The year 2021 has finally gone well again for WENZEL and has digested the consequences of the car crisis and the corona pandemic well: the order books for 2022 are already well filled again. But WENZEL is not simply moving on to business as usual, but is introducing a new working time model that is very innovative for mechanical engineering companies: the 4-day week in production as standard and in administration as an option.

Employee-oriented, innovative and sustainable

The new working time model, which has been prepared since mid-2021 and implemented at the beginning of the year, should be employee-oriented, innovative and sustainable. Employee-oriented, as many employees had signaled that the temporary short-time work required due to corona was actually very well suited to their own requirements.

“We launched the 4-day week under the motto 'Modern Workplaces for the Future, '” says Managing Director Dr. Heike Wenzel. “There is more time for personal interests, families and friendships. But for us, the new working time model is also a great opportunity to score points as an attractive employer, a clear advantage in the competition for the best talent on the job market.”

The model is innovative because the motivation and satisfaction of our employees is more important to us than the utilization of the machines required for production and, in some cases, very capital-intensive. However, very good planning is required so that the same number of machines can be manufactured in 4 days as before. And this means that the new working time model also has a lasting effect, as many energy-intensive machines, compressed air and air-conditioning technology can now be switched off as early as Thursday evening, resulting in energy savings of 10 - 15% with the same production output.

Options extended to working from home

“The reduction of working days from five days to four days a week is effective in all departments where implementation is possible,” explains HR manager Daniel Eisler. Employees were able to decide individually about changing the working time model. The majority of female employees were happy to accept the change, especially as the employment contracts were reduced from 37.5 to 36 hours without a loss of pay. Employees with 40-hour contracts could decide: either reduce to the 4-day week of 36 hours with an “excess” or stick to the old contract. “For those who wanted to stick with their existing model, we extended the options to work from home,” continues Eisler.

Currently, the 40-hour week is still the standard in most companies. However, studies and practical examples show that, with effective time management, the 4-day week also has the potential to increase motivation and productivity. The new model has now been put into practice for a month. Employees have settled in and positive voices report that productivity remains the same, as expected, despite the reduction in hours.

‍