Time is money, but when it comes to measuring productivity over the course of a typical workday, we may be pushing ourselves a little too hard without any extra benefits. The New Economics Foundation reports that a 30-hour workweek could be more beneficial than the traditional 40-hour work week because employees would enjoy more leisure time and be less stressed at work as a result. Working a 6-hour workday may be just what it takes to improve productivity and enjoy a good work-life balance. Shortening the Work Day: Does It Help?City officials in Sweden ran an experiment in the summer of 2014 to determine whether a six-hour workday would have a positive impact on productivity compared to an eight-hour work day. They divided government workers into two groups and tracked results over the course of an entire year. Several studies show that working extra hours doesn’t necessarily lead to increased productivity and that those who can be qualified as knowledge workers may actually fare better with a shorter work day. Could clocking out earlier in the day really make a difference to our contributions at work and personal life? It depends on the company culture and any pay scale changes involved. Finland carried out a similar experiment between 1996 and 1998, and workers reported that they felt less hurried throughout the busy workweek as a result. Workers also discovered that they had more time for other activities, such as spending time with family and children, devoting more time to fitness and exercise, having more time to take care of housework and chores, and having more time for rest and relaxation. Wage studies were also conducted to determine whether these benefits offered value to the worker when weekly wages were decreased because of working fewer hours. Key Benefits of Shorter WorkdaysFor many workers, a shorter workday could provide more time to take care of family obligations and leisure time throughout the week, which could improve their overall quality of life. A better quality of life could reduce stress levels at work, which would make the average employee happier and more productive. Increasing happiness on the job means the worker may also be less likely to call in sick or fight depression — a common problem that may be linked to work-related issues. Along with increased productivity and morale among workers, some other benefits of shorter workdays might include:
Companies that offer shorter workdays may also be able to attract and retain hardworking employees for the long-term. Many potential employees will look at the shorter workday as a benefit of the job. Are Shorter Workdays on the Horizon in the U.S.?In the United States, the most recent push for shorter work hours occurred during the Great Depression when a 30-hour workweek was adopted by the Kellogg’s cereal company.
Since then, there has been continued debate about the benefits of a longer workweek and overtime hours over a shorter workweek. U.S. workers and European workers are still examining the effects of a shorter workday on productivity and morale, however many U.S. companies now offer flex-time schedules as well as the option to work from home in an effort to accommodate their workers. Since the jury is still out on whether or not shorter workdays are truly beneficial to both the workers and the companies’ bottom lines, the average full-time American worker probably shouldn’t expect to see six-hour shifts sweeping their schedules anytime soon.
0 Comments
|