Business all over the globe is working on a measure to increase employees productivity, which is through cutting work hours.
Accordingly, despite still in the experimental phase, the trial does not indicate a decline in performance. Instead, it positively suggests that employees are happier and becoming more productive.
For instance, the workaholic country Japan has been urging its overtime workers to take a late start on one Monday in each month since 2018. Known as Shining Monday, the program aims to address the punishingly stress-inducing long work hours in the country.
Another example comes from Finland, Sweden, and New Zealand. Those countries implemented the four-day work a week or six-hour work a day while paying their employees with the standard five work-day salary. The result was astonishing as the productivity kept on escalating.
Accordingly, how can cutting work hours make business has more productivity? Here are some reasons to validate the findings.
Also Read: Build a Healthy Work Environment, Now!
Longer Work Hours is Not the Synonymy of Better Business Productivity
Many employers are under the impression that longer work hours translate to better productivity. The misconception originates from the belief that workers can finish more tasks if they work longer in a day or a week.
Actually, what happens in a real life situation suggests the opposite. During work hours, workers tend to take a short break every now and then or do other activities between the tasks. Accordingly, this is due to boredom and burnout due to pressure and the lack of time for them to rest outside of work hours.
Companies Show More Understanding towards Workers’ Well-being
No workers love to act as robots at their work. Workers are humans too and they require balanced life, including activities outside of the office. This balance includes family, social, financial, and personal lives or interests.
By paying workers with the normal salary while cutting their work hours, workers can possibly feel that the companies they work for appreciate and value their lives outside the office.
More ‘Spare Time’ Boosts Employees’ Mental Well-being
Mental well-being has become a serious issue in employees’ work lives, which, in some cases, lead to their decision to either stay or quit the job they currently in.
Also, indecent mental well-being only lowers workers’ motivation to perform better at work, which eventually leads to poorer overall productivity. By giving them more spare time, workers can focus on their mental well-being, thus avoiding further burnout and excessive stress.
Also Read: How to Overcome Stress at Work
