Does it affect SMEs? What can they do?

The initiative to reduce the working day from six to five days could affect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), since not all have the necessary resources to absorb the extra costs that the application of the initiative entails, reveals the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco-Servytur)

Although small businessmen applaud the initiative, they ask that the implementation be gradual, since with the application of the vacation reform the changes had to be practically immediate and they did not have sufficient tools.

Although the initiative does not have an impact on all SMEs, only on those with an excessive workload and six-day shifts for one off, yes they will have affectationsbecause it is a resource that they have ready to perform certain functions that day.

Yes, it will have an impact and a strong one, because at the end of the day, normally small or medium-sized companies tend to react to changes and not prevent them”, commented Alejandra Toscano, general director of the DNE Consulting firm.

He specified that most of these companies lack digital, automated structures and strategic planning and the impact they will have will not be a consequence of the reduction in working hours, but rather due to their structure focused on the presence of workers and the lack of technology. That is, because They are reactive and not preventative.

Zaira Zepeda, president of the Mexican Association of Women Business Leaders, agrees with this, who said that many SMEs do not have the internal tax and accounting infrastructure to recalculate overtime and hire more staff, especially for companies that are more operational. , which increases payroll expenses.

In addition, he pointed out that the initiative can lead to decreased productivity“because as we adapt, we are going to stop being competitive against other bigger companies and this takes us out of the market.”

The petition

Businessmen ask that the iimplementation is progressivesimilar to what was established in Colombia, where the first year an hour a week will be reduced, and that the employer decides if it is reduced on the days with less operational load, Zepeda highlighted.

He specified the need for training and advice from the authority for better implementation, in order to avoid what happened with the vacation reform, when many companies had a momentary bad work environment because both employees and staff were poorly informed.

Likewise, Concanaco also requests that the government expedite economic and financial support schemesthrough subsidies or low-interest loans that make it possible to offset the additional costs of having to hire more employees to replace the workforce that will stop working.

However, Toscano finds it difficult for the implementation to be gradual, as it has been seen with previous reforms. “It would be a good idea because you give companies the option of preparing gradually, but will it be possible? I think not, it will be immediate from 48 to 40 of the day”.

How to prepare?

Given this scenario, the recommendation is prepare and not wait for the reform to enter into force, so that the productivity hit is less. SMEs can start by measuring the impact and knowing how many people work six days a week and then see what they can do to correct the times. For example, moving breaks and making compensation plans. Ideally, SMEs should work with a planning scheme and streamline processes.

An error would be to enter those hours during the week without an additional paymenthe. “The risk is that there are organizations that charge these reduced hours to the worker, that would be super delicate and would create disappointment, anger and so on in the collaborators,” Toscano said.

Let’s remember that the reform was only approved in committees in the Chamber of Deputies and it still needs to be voted on in full, so it will be until September when the regular session resumes.