Can A Country Like The U.S. Afford To Have Shorter Workdays?
The HR Digest|January 2017

Because happy worker is a better worker!

Can A Country Like The U.S. Afford To Have Shorter Workdays?

In 2016, the Swedish city of Gothenburg began trials for a corn-flake capitalism experiment. The government coalition proposed a year-long trial that would divide municipal workers into a test and control group at the same pay rate: with the test group working six-hour days, and the control group working eight-hour days.

The six-hour working day is promoted not only by Vänster (Leftist Party), but also a growing body of academics, who support this transition based on research. An audit published in mid-April concluded that the program in its first year has sharply reduced absenteeism, and greatly improved productivity and worker health. While eight-hour work day is the norm, not all of those are spent actually working. The average time spent on private activities, such as personal phone calls, chatting with colleagues, checking social media and emails, and online shopping, take up an estimated 1.5 to 3 hours per day. According to CareerBuilder (2016) most employees spend at least an hour or more each work day on personal stuff. So technically, workers spend only 6-hours each working on what they are actually getting paid to take care of. Now, this is an interesting trade-off, making a 35-hour work week, especially for millennials, who value work-life balance a lot more than previous generations.

In a 2012 article for Foreign Policy, Charles Kenny explored the complicated connections between output and work hours:

This story is from the January 2017 edition of The HR Digest.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2017 edition of The HR Digest.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE HR DIGESTView All
Fast-Food Workers May Soon Have Scheduling Rights
The HR Digest

Fast-Food Workers May Soon Have Scheduling Rights

Recently, New York City became the third and largest major U.S. city to give fast-food workers scheduling rights.

time-read
1 min  |
July 2017
UK Workers Feel Frustrated By Flatlining Pay
The HR Digest

UK Workers Feel Frustrated By Flatlining Pay

Workers in the UK feel frustrated because their pay has been flat lined for a decade.

time-read
1 min  |
July 2017
Want To Be An Engineer For Jaguar? Play games!
The HR Digest

Want To Be An Engineer For Jaguar? Play games!

Recruiters are coming up with innovative ways to test the eligibility of their employees but the automaker Jaguar leaves behind others in this field.

time-read
1 min  |
July 2017
the growing problem of united states youth unemployment
the hr digest

the growing problem of united states youth unemployment

for the first time in last few decades, the united states’ unemployment rate is steadily dropping - hovering below six percent.

time-read
4 mins  |
october 2016
Make 2017 One Of The Best Years Ever!
The HR Digest

Make 2017 One Of The Best Years Ever!

A list of fun social activities to do with your workmates!

time-read
3 mins  |
January 2017
That's What She Said!” Are You Ready To Handle Millennials Office Affairs?
The HR Digest

That's What She Said!” Are You Ready To Handle Millennials Office Affairs?

You may say, it’s a brave new world for office romance, especially among young millennial cubicles. Almostonethird believe it is acceptable to dip your pen in company ink.

time-read
7 mins  |
January 2017
Should Employees Receive Compensation For Off-The-clock Phone Use?
The HR Digest

Should Employees Receive Compensation For Off-The-clock Phone Use?

A majority of European Union (EU) employers struggle to make sense of the mandatory vacation entitlements. In the EU, the law provides employees with mandatory levels of vacation. For instance, in the UK, a full-time employee is entitled to take 28 vacation days, while in France, employees are entitled to 5 weeks of vacation (in addition to public holidays).

time-read
1 min  |
October 2017
Daca – Employers And What Is Means For Employees
The HR Digest

Daca – Employers And What Is Means For Employees

President Donald Trump has announced the decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has provided removal protection and temporary work permits to nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as children.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2017
The HR Digest

Furry Creatures Going Around Your Workplace

When this concept of bringing pets to work was initially brought up, it seemed like a fun activity to do once in a while to lift up the spirits at the workplace. This gave rise to the celebration of a special day wherein the employees would bring their pets to work.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2017
The HR Digest

Modern Workplace Problems

Immigrant Workers’ Rights.

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2017