Despite these positive perceptions, 62% of companies do not see the implementation of a four-day work week as a realistic possibility. Concerns revolve around the potential increase in employee workload and additional operating costs.
One of the main concerns is that employees may feel obliged to extend their hours during the remaining workdays to meet their professional commitments.
In a previous interview, lawyer Kair Vela, founding partner of the IRKA ARVE firm, said that he does not see a four-day work week in Mexico in the near future. Although he admitted that this scheme has given good results in other countries, the labor market in Mexico still faces many lags.
Proof of this is that the initiative itself to reduce the working day to 40 hours has not yet been resolved. The opinion has already been approved in committees, but it remains to be approved by the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
In a press release, the Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic (Coparmex) argued that, instead of promoting new amendments, it is essential to consolidate the changes already approved in areas such as subcontracting, pensions, the minimum wage, decent vacations and labor justice. According to the organization, all these reforms have a significant impact on the operation of companies and require proper implementation.
Coparmex pointed out that the proposal to reduce the working day has not been the subject of in-depth reflection and has not incorporated the voices and concerns of all relevant sectors. Therefore, the organization considers that this proposal, which has already been approved in committees of the Chamber of Deputies, should be stopped, since it could have adverse effects on the world of work.
While some defend this measure as progress in the search for a better balance between work and personal life, others argue that it could have negative implications for companies and the economy in general. The same would happen with a four-day week.
This debate will continue to be a relevant topic in Mexico’s labor landscape, as different actors seek to find solutions that benefit both workers and companies in a context of labor changes and reforms.
What about the salary?
PageGroup’s study also addresses the issue of wages and purchasing power. Although 78% of companies plan to increase salaries between 5% and 6% next year, 20% of employees consider that their salary is not competitive in the labor market. 38% believe that their responsibilities do not correspond to their salary, and 23% say that their salary has not increased considering inflation.
Research still shows a significant gap between employees and employers in work priorities. While 86% of employees value benefits as an essential factor in their search for new job opportunities, only 8% of organizations plan to implement additional measures to retain their workers.
For employees, the priorities are clear: salary and compensation, followed by life balance and flexibility, then professional growth, the impact and value of their activities, organizational culture, non-monetary benefits and benefits appear on their radar. Free on-site services.
The concept of good quality of life is an aspect that employees seriously consider when evaluating new job opportunities. The way boundaries are respected and managed is a telling indicator in this context. In this regard, 49% of employees say they have the ability to establish clear limits on issues such as responding to emails or calls outside of work hours, while 42% still deal with it.
On the other hand, additional work experience without financial compensation also reveals a relevant dynamic in the work environment. 71% of employees have experienced situations in which they have invested extra time at work without receiving any remuneration.
These findings demonstrate the importance of recognizing and balancing employees’ investment of time and effort, which can have a significant impact on their satisfaction, engagement, and retention. 83% of employees consider their mental health more important than their professional career.
It stands out that 52.6% of workers have suffered work stress, which has caused other health conditions. And although the majority of those surveyed assure that their health is above their professional career, 44.5% affirm that they would accept a promotion even if this new opportunity affected their personal well-being.