In this day and age, economic growth throughout the world has raised the standards of living in many countries. This means that many people who used to live in poverty now have a chance to experience a fuller life. One main reason why an economy experiences economic growth is that the labor force is more productive, and/or they are more efficient. A shorter workweek will cause the economy to lose productivity and/or efficiency. In my opinion, a shorter work week is a bad idea, as it will reverse the gains in standards of living and leave the economy in stagnation, especially if other economies do not change their work week policy.
It is important to acknowledge that economic growth is mostly driven by the level of productiveness of its workers. For example, suppose that at a computer manufacturer, each worker can assemble 3 computers per month. Now, due to robots and certain automations, each worker can assemble 10 computers per month. This means the company can now sell 10 computers per month, not 3, which would lead to higher salaries and bonuses for the workers, or even more overtime hours. Put it simply, a more productive work force can drive the average income per worker higher, leading to an overall higher standard of living for the country. If a shorter work week is adopted, then such productivity would take a hit, and in this example, perhaps only 4 or 5 computers are assembled per worker instead of 10.
Thus, it is also imperative to understand that a shorter work week has its opportunity cost, just like everything else. From an individual’s perspective, if an employee works less hours in order to enjoy more leisure hours, then this opportunity cost may or may not be worth it. However, for the country as a whole, adopting a shorter work week means its economy will produce less. This sounds fine at first, unless other countries do not adopt a shorter work week and, as a result, continue to grow by leaps and bounds, and your country is left behind. In the long run, adopting a shorter work week for one country, while other countries do not, means that country will lose.
In conclusion, while a shorter work week sounds like a good idea for the individual worker, if most or all of the companies in one country adopt this idea, and yet other countries do not, then this country will for sure lose its economic status and may even experience a deterioration in standards of living, as other countries race ahead.