Work Hours: Where more is less

Luxembourg is a heaven for workers, the country where an average worker works only 28 hours in week. The under-worked employees are not problem for employers as well because the worker produces much more in an hour than many, in other countries, would have produced in 3 hours.

The phenomenon of reducing number of hours worked with enhanced productivity isn’t uncommon in other countries. France where average work week consists of 28.2 hours produces 65.6$ worth of value per hour per worker.

United States, the most developed economy, gets 68.3$ from their worker per hour during its 33.6 hour work-week.

The finding of a recent study confirmed economist’s preposition, that long work-weeks are counterproductive. The evidence produced suggests that long hours cause a decrease in creativity.

The curve of productivity shifts towards bottom as it moves towards right. Research, at Svartedalens retirement home, shows that shorter work-weeks can increase productivity among nurses. Side benefits include increased happiness and job satisfaction. Svartedalens is a growing movement in Europe asking for reduced number of work hours.

Eight hour work day is a norm across the world.  Ford Motor Company, in the days of ‘sun up to sun down’ workday, was the first business to implement 8 hour work week. Within two years Ford’s profits doubled encouraging other businesses to follow suit.

These days the nature of employment has changed from physically demanding to mentally demanding. The time boundary of on work and off work has become blurring. Many employees say they found solution to an important problem, at work, during vacation. The modern day jobs demand that a worker brings in more mental energy.

Fresh mind is more creative and therefore more productive during the present economic times. Shorter hours can keep your mind fresh and can save your employer in sick leaves as well.