The Ministry of Labor recently clarified how Family Day works with the new reduced work week. Until a company reduces its work week to 42 hours, employers must give two Family Days per year—one each semester—under Law 1857 of 2017.
Employers only stop granting Family Day after fully implementing the 42-hour work week. The Ministry explains that the exemption does not take effect immediately upon enactment of the law. It applies only after completing the transition to reduced hours.
What must employers do?
Companies and HR must adjust operations and policies to apply Law 2101:
2. Document all transitions. Record early adoption in meeting minutes or internal communications.
3. Update contracts, manuals, and policies that mention schedules or benefits.
4. Train employees and managers on the new working hours and their impact.
5. Reorganize shifts or tasks to keep productivity high after reducing hours.
A step towards workplace well-being
The government sees reducing the workweek as a step toward work-life balance. This is aligned with International Labor Organization (ILO) standards. The goal is to improve workers’ quality of life, encourage formalization, and reduce work fatigue.
For businesses, the change presents both an operational challenge and an opportunity to modernize talent management. It also strengthens corporate reputation as a responsible employer.
Law 2101 of 2021 supports the global move to reduce working hours. Success depends on a clear, documented process that ensures compliance and prevents labor issues.