As workers across the globe haul themselves back to the office for their first full week after the extended Christmas break, Finland's newly-installed prime minister may soften the blow for her citizens with the prospect of a condensed working week.

Sanna Marin, 34, has previously proposed putting the entire country on a four-day workweek consisting of six-hour workdays in a bid to transition the country to what she called "the next step for us in working life."

"I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. This could be the next step for us in working life," Marin said in August while she was still the minister of transport.

Specific details of Marin's proposal have not been announced and a spokesperson has iterated that it's not currently part of the government's agenda.