Since last Monday, July 15, a new adjustment to the working day began to apply in the countryin compliance with Law 1201 of 2021, going from 47 hours per week to 46.
(Further: Reduction of the working day: Petro proposes to increase it to 40 hours per week).
According to the Ministry of Labor, This measure, which aims to reach 42 hours a week by 2026establishes a gradual reduction, which will accelerate from July 2025, with an additional reduction of two hours (until completing 44 hours), and will end in July 2026 with the maximum legal working day.
Considering that the measure has been in effect for a few days and companies are still in the adaptation period to the new number of hours, there are already companies that, in search of improving the levels of well-being and productivity within their work teams, have reduced hours.
(Read: Is yours? Jobs that do not have a 46-hour workday reduction).
That’s how it was French multi-sport brand, Decathlonwhich arrived in the country in 2017, announced that it would implement a 40-hour work week starting in January 2024, reducing the work week by 8 hours.
According to Natalia Barrios, the company’s human resources leader, Since January 1, 2024, when the benefit came into effect, employees work 5 days a week, and have two mandatory days off..
He also pointed out that this adoption of the measure so early does not affect the salaries of the workers: “Maintains the same conditions and benefits“.
(See: With the reduction of the working day, this is how Colombia is compared to other countries).
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“The reduction to 40 hours would not imply a decrease in pay for workers, since the initiative proposes that fewer hours be worked for the same salary.“, Barrios specified.
How has the company fared with the reduction in working hours?
“The hours of rest allowed have allowed the levels of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion to be significantly reduced. And this is important, because not only do we have people with more energy, but also much more productive and happy people.“explains Decathlon’s human resources leader.
(Further: Reduction of working hours: Ministry of Labor says the balance is ‘bittersweet’).
According to company executives, With this reduction in working hours, it was evident that, after the first six months of management, its workers have more free time. to develop activities of interest and spend time with loved ones.
“This has undoubtedly led to each of them having an improvement in their quality of life and reducing their stress levels.“, the company says.
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