The German industrial worker’s union IG Metall struck a deal this week with more than 700 companies in Southwest Germany that secured more flexible working hours for a large number of their 2.3 million workers. The negotiated deal will give workers’ the option to choose to work 28 hour weeks for up to 2 years before going back to the standard 35-hour workweek. The deal also gives employees the option of working 40 hours a week if they want to make more money. The deal is widely expected to influence other contract negotiations throughout Germany.
See "German workers win right to 28-hour week", Alanna Petroff, CNN, February 7, 2018