Samsung Electronics Implements Flexible Work Schedule; Offers 4-Day Workweek to Employees

Samsung Electronics is joining some other companies in pushing for a healthy work and life balance by implementing a new four-day workweek schedule. The Seoul-based electronics company said it will now allow employees to work just four days once every month.

As per Korea Joongang Daily, as long as the employees fulfill or complete their monthly required working hours, they can have one day off in their chosen week each month. This is the only condition that Samsung Electronics has put in place to get the extra time off.

Business insiders said that starting June 23, the company will start the trial for the new work schedule scheme, which will come on the Friday of the payday week. Typically, the Samsung Galaxy devices manufacturer distributes paychecks on the 21st of each month.

Then again, those working in the production units and on eight-hour work shifts will continue to work on their usual schedules. The rest of the Samsung Electronics employees, including staff in the company’s semiconductor Device Solutions (DS) unit and the Device eXperience division that handles smartphones and consumer electronics, will also be allowed to avail of the optional work flexibility as long as they can meet the minimum 160 to 168-hour demand.

“It is our job to bring in good people and form a flexible culture that allows the organization to adapt to changes,” Lee Jae Yong, Samsung Electronics executive chairman, told executives during a leadership seminar last year.

It was further revealed that the flexible four-day work schedule was approved by the labor and management in April as well. They agreed to this during salary negotiations after the management made the proposal stating it is to boost the workers' morale.

At any rate, it should be noted that the 4-day workweek system is only partial as Samsung Electronics is implementing it only once a month rather than every week. The Korea Economic Daily also mentioned that this is mostly applicable to non-factory workers as well.

Photo by: Samsung Media Library