Can a 38-Hour Workweek Scale? How One Tech Firm Is Doing It

Translation result

The Korea Labor‑Management Development Foundation has resumed its \”win‑win partnership\” support program to tackle long working hours. The initiative aims to expand models that shorten working time, such as a 38‑hour workweek and an alternating four‑day schedule.

On May 7, foundation officials visited FlexLogic, a robot automation and inspection‑equipment manufacturer in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, to review progress on the actual working‑hours reduction support project.

The visit was the fourth field stop by the Foundation’s Real Working‑Hours Reduction Task Force. The task force identifies working‑hours reduction models based on voluntary labor‑management agreements and expands on‑site support.

FlexLogic joined the Foundation’s comprehensive win‑win partnership program after long working hours emerged as a growing issue during the company’s recent expansion. After signing a partnership with Doosan Robotics in 2023 and achieving 900,000 USD (approximately 1.2 billion KRW) in exports in 2025, the company’s workforce grew from 14 to 35 employees.

Labor and management agreed on the need to reduce actual working hours and to improve organizational culture, and the Foundation selected the company for support in April. The Foundation will provide financial support for program operations.

FlexLogic plans to run a joint labor‑management task force, solicit input from all employees, provide expert training, and put in place work‑life balance policies. The company said it aims to establish reduced actual working hours, a fair compensation system, and improved work schedules within the year.

Since launching the Real Working‑Hours Reduction Task Force in January, the Foundation has visited multiple company sites to identify successful cases of shortened working hours.

Earlier examples include Dayomapack, which cut office hours from 40 to 38 per week; Emtria I&C, which introduced a two‑hour early dismissal on Fridays; and Powell, which implemented a four‑shift, two‑team rotation for equipment workers and an alternating‑week four‑day schedule for office staff.

© Dailian Co., Ltd. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited

• [Exclusive] Hyundai Motor Group reshuffles EV charging business… Hyundai Engineering considers acquiring a charging affiliate
• Switching from the Youth Leap Account to the Youth Future Savings: “Consider income, eligibility, and interest rates”
• “Allocating units over 85㎡ to all union members”… Reconstruction of the Olympic Athletes’ Village apartments gains momentum
• [6·3 Pick] People Power Party holds a rally in Gyeonggi Province… Local elections are the day to judge Lee Jae‑myung, the alleged ringleader of crime
• Shareholders, pushed to the brink, take to the streets… How far will Samsung’s strike risk extend?