Bahrain's Workweek: Are Mondays The New Sundays?

In Bahrain, the workweek is currently Monday to Thursday, with Friday being a day of rest and worship for Muslims, and Saturday being the other day off. However, there have been recent discussions about changing the weekend to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, to align with the majority of countries around the world and boost the country's economic competitiveness. This change would provide employees with a three-day weekend and improve their work-life balance. While some people support this proposal, others argue that Friday, as a sacred day for Muslims, should remain a day off, and that changing the weekend could negatively impact the economy and reduce salaries.

Bahrain's work week

In Bahrain, the workweek is currently from Sunday to Thursday, with Friday being a day off for Muslim prayers. However, there have been recent discussions and proposals to change the working week to include a three-day weekend, with Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays off. This change aims to improve work-life balance and boost workers' rights.

The proposed change to a three-day weekend in Bahrain has sparked mixed reactions. Some people support the idea, citing the benefits of a longer weekend for personal pursuits and improved work-life balance. However, others have expressed concerns about potential decreases in salaries and economic output. There are also religious and cultural considerations, as Friday is a sacred day for Muslims, and traditionally a day for families to gather and spend time together.

Currently, the private sector in Bahrain typically works from 8 am to 5 pm, five days a week, amounting to a 48-hour workweek. This work schedule includes a one-hour lunch break. The proposed change to a three-day weekend would likely impact the working hours and schedules of both the public and private sectors.

While Bahrain considers this shift, it is worth noting that other countries in the region, such as the United Arab Emirates, have already implemented similar changes. The UAE now has a Friday-Saturday weekend, with Friday being a half-day for work. This adjustment allows for greater business trade and cooperation with other countries that follow the same weekend schedule.

The discussion around Bahrain's workweek highlights the ongoing debate between traditional work schedules and the potential benefits of reduced work hours for employees' well-being and productivity. As the world continues to evolve and adapt to new ways of working, it remains to be seen whether Bahrain will adopt the proposed changes to its workweek.

Friday as a day of rest

In Bahrain, Friday is a day of rest and prayer for Muslims, who are the majority in the country. Friday is considered a special day for Muslims, and many families gather together to chat and catch up.

Some countries with a significant Muslim population have instituted a Friday–Saturday or Saturday–Sunday weekend to further business trade and cooperation with other countries. However, some Muslims in Bahrain are opposed to changing their weekend to match the rest of the world, as they believe Friday should be a day off for religious reasons and to maintain their cultural traditions.

In the past, Bahrain changed its weekend days from Thursday and Friday to Friday and Saturday to align with other countries. Now, there is a proposal to change the weekend to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, which has sparked discussions among Bahrainis. Some support this proposal as they believe it will provide a longer weekend and better work-life balance. However, others are against it, arguing that Friday is a sacred day for Muslims and that the current weekend structure allows them to attend Friday prayers without rushing from work.

The decision to change the weekend structure in Bahrain is a complex issue that involves balancing religious and cultural traditions with economic considerations. While some favour changing the weekend to match the majority of countries worldwide, others believe Friday should remain a day of rest and prayer.

The history of the weekend

The concept of a two-day weekend is a relatively modern phenomenon. In the 19th century, government legislation reduced working hours in factories and prescribed regular breaks. However, the two-day weekend was shaped by a combination of campaigns, including those led by half-day holiday movements, trade unions, commercial leisure companies, and employers themselves.

In 19th-century Britain, Sundays were considered holy, and nobody was expected to work. However, this often led to workers taking Monday off as well, to "recover from Saturday night and the previous day's excesses". This practice became known as "Saint Monday" and was a popular secular holiday by the mid-19th century. Commercial leisure businesses, such as music halls and theatres, even staged events on Mondays to cater to this unofficial holiday.

The tradition of Saint Monday hurt productivity, so factory owners decided to make Saturdays a half-day instead. This change was also supported by religious leaders, who believed that a break on Saturday would improve the mental and moral culture of the working class and allow for greater church attendance on Sundays. Trade unions also wanted to secure a formalised break that did not rely on customs like Saint Monday.

Campaign groups like the Early Closing Association lobbied the government to keep Saturday afternoons free for worker leisure in return for a full day's work on Monday. They argued that this would foster a sober and industrious workforce. By the end of the 19th century, there was a strong push to mark Saturday afternoon and Sunday as the weekend.

The full two-day weekend, however, only arrived in the 1930s. John Boot, the chairman of the Boots corporation, opened a new factory in 1933 that was so productive it created a surplus of stock. Rather than laying off workers, Boot decided to grant them Saturdays off with no deduction in pay. This experiment was a success, with workers reporting improved health and happiness, and reduced absenteeism. The two-day weekend soon became the industry standard.

Around the same time, Henry Ford of the Ford Motor Company introduced a 40-hour workweek and made Saturday and Sunday days off for his staff in 1926. This change was partly altruistic, but it also gave workers the opportunity to spend their downtime buying consumer products, keeping cash circulating through the economy. The USA officially adopted the five-day workweek in 1932 to counter unemployment during the Great Depression.

The workday in other countries

The length of the average workweek varies across the world, and is influenced by factors such as industry, country, culture, and labour laws. While some countries follow a Monday to Friday workweek, others have a shorter workweek spanning from Sunday to Thursday.

In Bahrain, the workweek traditionally begins on Sunday and ends on Thursday, with Friday and Saturday being the days off. However, there have been discussions and proposals to change the weekend days to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, similar to the recent change implemented in the UAE. This would result in a longer weekend and potentially improve work-life balance.

The length of the workweek also differs across various countries and regions. For example, some European countries are known for their flexible workweeks, providing workers with four days of paid leave per month in addition to the standard weekend. On the other hand, countries in the Middle East and Asia often have shorter workweeks, spanning from Sunday to Thursday.

The number of working hours within a workweek also varies globally. While some countries have an average workweek of under 40 hours, others work nearly 50 hours per week. The length of the workweek is influenced by factors such as workplace laws, overtime regulations, parental leave policies, and government-mandated vacation time.

It's worth noting that countries with shorter workweeks tend to have residents with higher life satisfaction. Leisure time and a better work-life balance contribute significantly to overall life satisfaction. Additionally, countries with longer workweeks often have lower minimum wages and lower life satisfaction scores.

The future of the work week

In the past few years, the traditional 9-5, five-day work week has started to look increasingly old-fashioned. Workers are calling for more flexibility, better work-life balance, and more choice in deciding when, where, and how to do their jobs. This has led to a hotly debated topic: the four-day work week.

In the first six months of 2022, 150 companies and 7,000 of their employees participated in six-month coordinated trials of the four-day week. Belgium has instituted a right to work a five-day week in four days with no loss of salary, and Iceland's trial of the shortened work week has been an "overwhelming success", with dramatically increased employee well-being. The UK has also experimented with a four-day work week, with employees working four days for the same pay, or a seven-day "just get your work done" model.

Microsoft Japan saw a 40% jump in productivity gains and a rise in employee happiness from their four-day work week trial. Similarly, Atom Bank in the UK has seen a 500% increase in applications for open job vacancies since moving to a four-day week. However, not all experiments with flexible work have had the intended consequences. For example, France introduced a 35-hour work week, hoping to generate more employment, but this resulted in more vacation time instead.

The four-day work week can be a powerful tool for companies to address inefficiencies and align their productivity goals with employee motivation. It can also be a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent. However, it is important to note that flexible work arrangements may not work for all industries or companies. While many of us have been debating and deciding which days to work from home, 60% of the workforce still show up to work on-site.

As we move towards a more flexible future of work, it is essential to provide flexible opportunities for all. According to research, some of the simplest things matter most – 45% of workers listed the ability to control their schedule (when they start and finish) at the top of their flexibility wish list, followed by more vacation time (36%) and the choice of where to work (35%).

In addition to flexibility, workers also care deeply about working for companies that share their values and beliefs. 64% of workers want to know that their work contributes positively to society, and beliefs around sustainability, social justice, fairness, and equity also determine workers' employment choices.

As we navigate the rapidly changing work environment, it is crucial for companies to listen to their employees and adapt to their needs and wants. The future of the work week looks bright, with increased flexibility, improved work-life balance, and a focus on employee well-being and purpose.

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