Work sharing is just the job

I am glad the suggestion (Jan 17) to lower working hours (from a 5 day week, to a 4.5 day week) to increase employment, is causing ripples.

It is a pity though that such ripples radiate out from Ray Richardson’s tiny pebble cast into the letters’ section of the Irish Examiner.

This is an excellent idea and one that has been supported by Germany’s labour force since the 2008 downturn. Between 2008 and 2010, Germany’s employment rate increased, while its average work hours declined. Of course, part of this stability must be due to Germany’s strong trade links with booming China.