Lamborghini is making some big moves for its workers to end the year on a high note
The luxury car manufacturer recently reached a deal with unions that will help their employees have a better work/life balance.
According to reports from Reuters, the labor associations and the company announced this month that it will introduce a four-day week for its production workers.
This development comes as more manufacturing groups re-consider the structure of the work week for their employees.
The FIOM and FIM-CISL unions have called this new agreement “historical” because of what it can do for the rest of the industry.
Lamborghini is the first in the automotive industry in Europe to achieve a significant reduction in working hours without cutting wages, but rather, increasing them.
This move comes as many companies and public offices are changing how people work after the COVID-19 pandemic and rising costs.
Similar four-day week schedules adopted in other European countries have found that employees worked more in less time.
They also found that job retention and recruitment improved and sickness levels went down.
“Work less and work better, this is the principle that guided this negotiation, and which is part of a comprehensive reasoning,” a statement from FIOM and FIM-CISL said.
Production workers on a rotating two-shift schedule will alternate a five-day week with a four-day week, cutting a total of 22 days of work each year.
Those on a three-shift rotation will have a five-day week alternated with two four-day weeks, which will cut their yearly working days by 31.
The agreement reached with Lamborghini is part of a broader renegotiation of the framework contract used for workers of the car maker, a subsidiary of Germany’s Volkswagen.
The agreement also includes 500 new jobs, an increase of annual wages, and further labor benefits.
To make matters even more exciting, the deal includes a 50% increase in the current variable bonuses paid to workers as well as a one-off bonus of over 1,000 euros ($1,082) to be paid this month.
On Tuesday, Intesa Sanpaolo said that 70% of almost 30,000 people who had the option of asking to work a four-day week had done so.
Back in January, Italy’s largest bank opened to shortening the working week to curb energy bills, the first such move by a major Italian employer.
Just last week, eyewear maker Essilorluxottica agreed with labor unions to test a four-day working week model in its Italian plants, for 20 weeks per year.
Other Italian groups, including aerospace and defence group Leonardo, are also in talks with unions to extend flexible working benefits to their production sites.
Consumers took to Reddit to give their thoughts about Lamborghini’s latest move, happy to see such a big name make a move like this for its workers.
“This why I buy Lamborghini exclusively,” one user joked. “I have a reputation to uphold and I want to support workers rights.”
Another replied, “Yes I also exclusively purchase Lamborghini motor vehicles for my transportation purposes. I just ordered another 3 upon hearing this news. Up here in the Hollywood hills …”
“Now that they’re treating their employees with the dignity and respect of a healthy work/life balance I’m going to buy a couple of their cars,” another user wrote.
Others chimed in with their experience of a 4 day work week, raving about just how much it has improved their quality of life.
“I’ve been working 4 for the last decade, with Wednesday free,” one user who has personal experience began in their comment.
“No one should be working 5 days in a row, because by Friday, no one is really working that well anymore anyway,” they continued. “Focus and energy have limits.”
And, as on person pointed out: “Im all in for a 4-day week, but Lamborghini could make a 2-day week and still make profit probably.”