Aritz Parra | Manufacturing.net

Waiter Sara Palacios prepares a coffee as she works at La Francachela restaurant in Madrid, Spain, Friday, March 26, 2021. Experimenting with cutting back one workday per week is about to go nationwide in Spain. A 3-year pilot project will be using 50 million euros ($59 million) from the European Union's massive coronavirus recovery fund to compensate companies as they resize their workforce or reorganize production workflows to adapt to a 32-hour working week.

Spain Gives 4-Day Work Week a Try

Arguments in favor of the move also cite benefits for the overall economy.

March 29, 2021

Commuters wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus at Atocha train station in Madrid, Spain, Monday, April 13, 2020.

Nations Pressured to Reopen

Governments are struggling with the delicate balance between keeping people safe from a highly contagious virus and making sure they can still make a living.

April 13, 2020