After all the buzz around a proposed 37.5 hour workweek, an expert warns that soon we may be down to three days of work per week. This bold cut in hours is driven mainly by advances in technology that will make tasks easier and keep productivity steady or even higher.
The pact between the PSOE and Sumar for Pedro Sánchez’s investiture included a plan to reduce the workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours, with study slated to begin soon. The minister of labor, Yolanda Díaz, aims to bring all involved parties together by year end to start implementing the change in 2024. It would roll out gradually, dropping to 38.5 hours next year and finally arriving at the full reduction in 2025.
Labor unions welcome the idea, believing it will benefit workers without cutting pay. Yet business leaders worry that productivity could suffer in the short term and that the economy might feel the impact in the long run. A prominent business figure has stepped forward to forecast a future three‑day workweek that many would embrace, driven by new technologies that allow people to work less while staying highly efficient.
Bill Gates has the answer
The cofounder of Microsoft and former company president spoke in a recent interview on the podcast What Now to say that artificial intelligence will take over many routine tasks that workers currently perform. This would free people to focus on more strategic activities and challenges. Gates describes AI as a valuable business complement that could help sustain or even boost overall output.
He cautions that AI may not be as disruptive as the industrial revolution, but it will be as transformative as the advent of computers. He believes jobs will not vanish; instead, workers will adapt. He notes that word processing software did not erase office jobs, but it changed them forever. Leaders and employees learned to adjust, and they did so successfully. In his view, manual labor will mostly endure, while industrial roles may face greater impact because machines reason faster and more efficiently.
The idea that life should be more than work
Gates has framed a broader purpose for work and life. He advocates for corporate measures that support work–life balance and flexible hours. If a three‑day workweek becomes reality, the goal is to achieve a seamless blend between professional duties and personal life for everyone involved.
The conversation around shorter weeks reflects a growing interest in productivity, technology, and well being. As automation and intelligent systems mature, companies are exploring how reduced hours can coexist with sustained or improved performance. The path forward likely includes pilot programs, ongoing evaluation, and a focus on people as the central element of business success.
The debate continues, but the trend points toward smarter work rather than longer hours. As automation handles repetitive tasks, teams can redirect energy toward creativity, strategy, and collaboration. For workers, this could translate into more time for family, learning, and rest, all while maintaining career momentum. For companies, the challenge will be to balance capacity, customer demand, and innovation with the evolving tools at hand. The future of work appears to hinge on thoughtful integration of technology with human skills, rather than a simple reduction in hours alone.