Finnish PM Advocates Four-Day-Week, Six-Hour-Day

After becoming the world's youngest Prime Minister, Sanna Marin of Finland advocates the concept of a four-day-long week and six-hours-long working day. Finland currently has an eight-hour-day and five-day work culture. Marin, along with her alliance, however, has demanded a test run for the six-hour-day.

Key Takeaways:

• At 34 years of age, Sanna Marin is the youngest ever sitting Prime Minister in history.
  
• On the occasion of 120th anniversary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Turku, she put forth the need for shorter working hours. 
• She had stressed on the need for a four-day-long week and shorter working hours while she held the position of Minister of Transport and Communications.
• The six-hour-long day is already a reality in Finland's neighboring country Sweden and post two years of policy implementation, the employees are happier, healthier, and more productive.

"I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. This could be the next step for us in working life."- Sanna Marin

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People Deserve To Spend More Time With Their Familie, Says Sanna Marin

While serving as the Minister of Transport and Communications, Marin had said, “A four-day workweek, a six-hour workday. Why couldn’t it be the next step? Is eight hours really the ultimate truth? I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. This could be the next step for us in working life.”

In Finland, currently, an eight-hour-day is the norm. However, the left-wing alliance, with which Marin has formed a coalition recently, demanded a test run for the six-hour-day.

Marin is known for her progressive ideas to combat climate change, provide quality health care, and connect with the youth.

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People Working Six Hours A Day Are Healthier, Happier And More Productive

Six hours long day is a reality in Finland's neighboring country Sweden. When the country implemented the policy announcing the six-hour-long day, two years thereon, employees were happier, healthier and more productive. Moreover, with reduced working hours, services were expanded, more employees were hired and this resulted in an increase in tax revenue. Sweden has been working with the six-hour-long day for very long. Toyota was the first company to experiment with the same and first implemented the decision in its Gothenburg plant. Including everything positive, here's why Toyota's profits increased:

• Since there was only a short span of time for which they were working in a day, the employees either discarded the long meetings or made them more efficient.
• People also had fewer idle times in a day in which they would surf the internet or other nonproductive tasks while working in the normal routine.

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Sanna Marin's Political Career

Sanna Marin began her political career in 2012 after she was elected to the local council in the southern city of Tampere in Finland, at the age of 27. She has been a Member of Parliament since 2015 and held the portfolio of transportation and communications ministry. As the newly appointed PM of Finland, she will be heading a coalition with four other parties that are all led by women. Marin is known for her progressive ideas to combat climate change, provide quality health care, and connect with the youth.

Picture Credit- The Guardian