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Daniel Bernmar (Left Party; Counsellor and member
of the executive city committee in Gothenburg)
6-HOUR WORKDAY: A TRIAL IN GOTHENBURG
Gothenburg City Council initiated a 6-hour workday trial in 2014. The aim of the trial is to find
out how a 6-hour workday impacts the health and life quality of assistant nurses, as well as to
study socioeconomic factor benefits and the impact on job creation. The trial included inter-
active research in order to analyze its effects.
The trial is conducted at “Svartedalen” elderly care centre with approximately 80 assistant
nurses. The first report “6 months with 6 hours” indicates a drop in sick leaves, improved
continuity and less stressed employees. Even the elderly residents feel they receive better
care and get more time with the employees.
1 BACKGROUND
Gothenburg City Council decided in 2014 to launch a 6-hour workday trial including interac-
tive research. The trial was planned for one year, from 2 February 2015 until 31 January 2016.
In June 2015 Gothenburg City Council decided to extend the trial over the whole of 2016.
The idea came from the Left Party who has been supporting shorter working hours for a long
time. They argue that a 6-hour workday, while maintaining the same wage, is a strategic re-
form to reduce unemployment and to achieve a more equal distribution between work and
capital. It is also a feminist reform; shorter working hours free time for all working people,
which creates the conditions for a more equal distribution of paid and unpaid work. A shor ter
workday also means that part-time jobs will be translated into full-time jobs.
Together with the Social Democrats and the Green Party, it was decided to run a trial to show
that it is possible to reduce working hours with good results and to share best practices.
2 THE TRIAL DESIGN
The 6-hour workday trial is conducted by the City District Council “Västra Hisingen”. The trial
is organized by a management group, a project group (of managers, administrators/experts
and union leaders) and a group of assistant nurses to ensure they have a voice in the trial. A
team of administrators/experts collaborates with representatives of the authorities for the
Swedish Insurance Agency, the Unemployment Insurance Found, the Swedish Employment
Agency and the National Board of Health and Welfare.
The trail is conducted at “Svartedalen” elderly care centre. “Solängen” elderly care centre is
the reference. Both centres have apartments with approximately 70 residents each. The inter-