Herbapol Poznań, one of Poland's oldest firms, founded in the 19th century, has introduced a four-day working week for its 400 staff. The company, known for producing herbal remedies,

dietary supplements, and cosmetics, has initiated the new system with employees enjoying their first paid Friday off last month. The plan is to phase in one additional four-day working week each quarter, providing all Fridays off by the end of the year. The firm emphasizes that the standard eight-hour workdays will be maintained, and pay will not be reduced.

The CEO, Tomasz Kaczmarek, views this move as an effort to ensure employees are well-rested, motivated, and valued. The four-day working week is initially a pilot program, with results closely monitored by the company.

Herbapol Poznań states that automation and new technologies contribute to better results with lower time and personnel costs, allowing them to share the success with their employees. Employees own around 70% of shares in the company, which was privatized in the 1990s after state ownership during the communist era. The four-day working week, not a popular concept in Poland, is being closely observed, and the company hopes it will make them more attractive as employers. Photo by Phil Whitehouse, Wikimedia commons.