Making headlines across the world is Sweden's move to cut down the working day from 8, to 6 hours.
It sounds appetising to the average worker; fewer meetings and more time at home, but is there really a benefit for businesses?
Swedish CEOs seem to think so.
Linus Feldt, CEO of the Swedish software company Filimundus, believes that the "eight-hour workday is not as effective as one would think" and he is not alone. Many CEO's across Sweden, and in a growing number around the world, believe that an eight hour day can be counter-productive.
He argues that employees are likely to lose focus, become distracted and feel fatigued throughout the day; resulting in more time spent surfing the internet, scrolling through social media and seeking out "time-wasters".
By introducing shorter working days, supporters believe that there is a magnitude of benefits that could be enjoyed by both employees and employers, increased productivity as employees work harder, are not fatigued and thus have higher levels of job satisfaction.
Where did the 8 hour day come from?
Back in 1926, people worked upwards of 70 hours a week, with some sources claiming this number could have even been as high as 100. In a revolutionary move, Ford Motors was one of the earliest corporations to introduce the 40 hour work week. This attempt to increase productivity and work/life balance certainly worked, and soon manufacturers all over America and the world followed suit, creating the standard that we all live by today.
It has been over 80 years since its introduction, and the once conventional concept of an 8 hour working day is being considered outdated.
What about those working MORE than 40 hours a week?
Sure, reducing the hours of your average employee down from 40 sounds great. But what about the managers, CEO's and entrepreneurs that are working 50, 60 or even 70 hours a week? We often hear about the extensive office hours they devote in a regular week, and they appear to be enjoying success and productivity, right?
Well, research seems to indicate that, working over 8 hours a day significantly decreases productivity, shrinking total output below levels achieved in a regular 40 hour work week. According to the Business Roundtable, their studies in the field demonstrated that "the cumulative effect of decreased productivity will cause a delay in the completion date beyond that which could have been realized with the same crew size on a 40-hour week".
Is Australia Next?
Studies prove that shifting the average work week to 40 hours has increased productivity and output in many organisations. But, the newest suggested shift to 6 hour days is still a concept in its infancy, yet to be globally recognised.
With Sweden taking on the role of global guinea pig for now, it is unlikely that Australia will start rolling out the 6 hour day anytime soon, but you never know! I'm sure Ford's suggestion of the 8 hour day sounded crazy at the time, and perhaps in another 80 years from now, the world will be contemplating 4 hour work days.
About Samantha Saunders
Samantha is a dedicated business professional who will graduate in December 2015 with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in International Business. She will be graduating with a diverse portfolio of entrepreneurial experience from San Diego State University, University of California Los Angeles and the University of Canberra. Currently interning at Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre, post-graduation she plans to begin work as a global entrepreneur helping starts ups, and eventually start her own consulting firm.
