Last week, Korean economic newspaper Korea Economic Daily quoted a Samsung Group official as saying that “executives at Samsung Electronics, including those in the manufacturing and sales departments, will switch to a 6-day work week, working on rank Seven or ChSunday, instead of working 5 days a week as usual.
Samsung was forced to adjust the work schedules of its leaders due to ineffective business operations in 2023
Samsung Electronics isn't the only company whose executives have switched to a six-day work week. Samsung Display, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDS and other group subsidiaries will also soon switch to a six-day workweek, and financial services companies affiliated with the group, such as Samsung Life Insurance , will soon adopt a 6-day work week. Executives at Samsung C&T, Samsung Heavy Industries and Samsung E&A have voluntarily worked six days a week since the beginning of 6. Non-executive employees of Samsung Group will continue to work five days a week.
A representative of the group said Korea Economic Daily that: “With the performance of major divisions, including Samsung Electronics, falling short of expectations in 2023, we will adopt a 6-day work week to instill a sense of crisis in our executives and ensure they work diligently to rectify this situation.”
In 2023, factors such as the devaluing won and rising crude oil prices caused some of Samsung Group's core businesses to fall below expectations. Samsung Electronics in particular had a difficult year, but revenue and operating profit improved in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter thanks to memory chip prices recovering from rock bottom levels and high-end smartphone sales surging.
Business magazine Fortune pointed out that Samsung Group's adoption of a 6-day working week goes against the trend of 4-day working weeks in other countries around the world. In the UK, where a four-day workweek trial is being implemented in 4, benefits such as reduced sick leave, maintained or improved productivity and a significant reduction in resignations have been reported. record.
