Generation Z Welcomes the 4.5-Day Workweek but Says "No Salary Cuts"

Eight Out of Ten Say "4.5-Day Workweek Influences Job Decisions"
However, More Would Reject It If Salaries Are Reduced

Eight out of ten Generation Z job seekers in South Korea (born in the mid-1990s to early 2000s) are aware of the 4.5-day workweek and would consider it as a condition for employment. However, the key factor for the successful implementation of the 4.5-day workweek is that it must be operated without any reduction in salary.

Office workers at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 19th. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. Photo by Yonhap News

On May 23, Jinhaksa Catch, a recruitment platform, released the results of a survey on the 4.5-day workweek conducted among 1,630 Generation Z job seekers in South Korea. According to the survey, 83% of respondents said they were aware of the 4.5-day workweek. Additionally, 84% responded that the 4.5-day workweek would influence their decision to join a company. This means that more than eight out of ten Generation Z job seekers consider the 4.5-day workweek an attractive working condition.

However, the adoption of the 4.5-day workweek comes with the prerequisite that there must be no reduction in salary. Among all respondents, 62% cited "operation without salary reduction" as the most important condition for the future success of the 4.5-day workweek. This was followed by "efficient work management" (33%), "flexible implementation according to job type" (22%), and "minimizing side effects such as overtime work" (16%).

Survey on Generation Z's Intention Regarding a 4.5-Day Workweek. Jinhaksa Catch

If the introduction of the 4.5-day workweek were to require a salary reduction, to what extent would Generation Z be willing to accept a pay cut? The most common response was "I can accept up to a 5% reduction," at 44%. This was followed by "up to 10% is acceptable," at 13%. However, 43% responded that "if my salary is reduced, I cannot accept the 4.5-day workweek."

As for how they would spend their extra free time after the implementation of the 4.5-day workweek, 47% of respondents chose "sufficient rest" as their preferred option. This was followed by "self-development" (18%), "exercise and health management" (12%), "time with family" (9%), "hobbies and cultural activities" (9%), and "side jobs or financial investments" (5%).

Regarding the survey results, Kim Junghyun, head of Jinhaksa Catch, said, "This survey confirmed the high level of interest among Generation Z job seekers in the 4.5-day workweek," adding, "When introducing the system, practical factors such as salary, work intensity, and operational methods must be thoroughly considered in advance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.