Produce more by working less? At Lamborghini, it's possible. The car manufacturer, a flagship of Made in Italy, promotes the model of a four-day workweek. Introduced in 2023 for 1,000 workers out of a total of 3,000 employees, the formula has already shown concrete results: fewer sick leaves, reduced injuries, greater internal satisfaction, and — above all — increased productivity.
The numbers of the change
The short week affects 70% of production workers. Where work is done in two shifts (as in the Revuelto and Temerario departments), short weeks alternate with normal ones. In the Urus line and the paint department (three shifts), the scheme is two short weeks every three. Workers have given up some rest days, but the benefits seem to more than compensate. And the new hires? A thousand in the last three years, with the 500 planned between 2024 and 2025 almost completed.
The risk in the sector? Overcapacity
Umberto Tossini, head of HR and organization, looks ahead with caution: “There is a dramatic problem of overcapacity in the automotive industry. Our balance is based on structural costs contained at 8% of the entire company budget. We will continue on this path.”
More money, fewer conflicts
Lamborghini offers its employees a salary 40% higher than the national metalworkers' contract, with production bonuses reaching up to 6,000 euros. Yet, in a national climate marked by 40 hours of strikes in the category, Tossini makes an appeal: “Pragmatism is needed to overcome the stalemate in the renewal negotiations. The future does not necessarily have to follow old models.”
Skills, a race against time
With technological evolution, skills quickly become obsolete. “Today they last from 2 to 5 years. That's why we want to move beyond the model of the classic corporate academy. Young people learn differently: new training tools are needed.”
Smart working? Yes, but with balance
Up to 12 days a month of remote work are provided for by the company contract. But Lamborghini employees, according to Tossini, choose the balance on their own: “The actual average is between 5 and 6 days a month. It's a matter of trust and shared responsibility.”
