SHORTER WORKING HOURS
The shortening of working week without a loss in pay
has been a great demand as it provides a solution to rescue the nation’s ailing
leisure and travel industries. The employees could engage in pursuing hobbies,
spending time with family, getting more sleep and boost morale and energy. This
way, refreshed employees could engage in more productive business with
increased profit of the enterprise. For example, West Coast based fast food
chain, Shake shack improved lifestyle and finances of employees with reduced
working hours. This model improves mental health of employees and let them
avail other products and services in the country leading to economic growth.
Reducing current 40 hours week to 30 not only
ensures staff well-being but also nurtures the enterprise’s production and
profit. The great economist, John Maynard Keynes envisioned a 15 hour work week
by the 21st century because productivity gains would make long hours
unnecessary , also advance technology helps to increase overall performance of
the organization, allowing more work to be done in few days.
Reduced working hours also helps in dealing with
environmental crisis and conserves exhaustion of natural resources. Like,
Microsoft Japan realized that pages printed fell and electricity consumption
was also reduced during their 4 day work week trial. This came as an additional
gain.
Other benefit of short working hours is that employees
can reduce stress, fatigue and burn out and increase their engagement in work.
New Zealand based financial service company; Perpetual Guardianresulted in lower
stress,happier employees and a 20 % rise in productivity. But for manufacturing
industries and service sector it is not feasible to pull out a working day and
still maintain the same output.
People are found to be more productive and less
prone to job related illness, stress and anxiety leading to less sick leave and
absenteeism. Another pro of a 4 day work week is reduced unemployment rate as
the companies can recruit new employees for open hours leading to better usage
of manpower and more innovative ideas like introducing a new time saving
method. Microsoft Japan observed high productivity, meetings were more
efficient and workers took less time off.
Although many organizations which have tested four
day week model, has chosen to continue with five day week. But the
beneficiaries of short working hours cannot be neglected. Employees tend to use
their free time for more research related works and hence could come up with
innovative ideas. Also business operational cost of organizations can be cut
down and could benefit the environment according to the report from the Centre
for economic and policy research.
Time spent on tasks in organization can be regulated
with limited short working hours and overall outcome of a company can be
enhanced. It leads to more positive outcomes for employees, company and
society as a whole. Environment and country are too benefitted. Shifting
to shorter working hours will hence lead to happier, healthier and more
profitable organizations. Hence, sustainable development is ensured.
Contributed by
Puja Rathore
M.Com HRM Final
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