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Time for companies to rethink the 8-Hour Workday?

   In 1914, Henry Ford realized that his employees were overworked and under performing. Ford thought out side of the box, he realized that cutting the workday from 12 hours to 8 hours and doubling employee salaries would greatly benefit his company as well as his employees. Ford realized that he made the right move he got the results he was looking for increased productivity from his employees.

   Now it may be time to think out side the box again. A recent study found that employees that work 8-hours a day are only productive about 45% of the work day. In the U.S. many people work long hours, 40% of U.S. employees regularly work over 50-hours per week, 20% work 60-hour per week. But are they actually being as productive as they think they are. 

   Things to consider when working 8-hours every day for five straight days is the stress factor which might be too much for some people. It can have negative psychological effects that cause mental stress, and this does not make anyone more productive or effective. Instead, some even end up hating their jobs. Employees that work more than 11 hour days are 2.5 times more likely to develop depression, and 40-80 times more likely to develop heart disease. And women who put in long hours have been found to triple their risk of developing chronic and acute diseases including diabetes, cancer, heart disease and arthritis. In the US, stress alone can cost businesses over $300 billion a year in health care expenses and missed work.

   "Less is more" theory Throughout history and even today some of the most brilliant and successful people in the world adhere the the theory of working less hours per day and getting the same results as someone working 8-hours per day.

   Author and researcher Alex Pang, says that if your work is creative requires a lot of thinking and concentration 4-hours is actually the optimal amount of time to spend per day. But should everyone work 4-hours per day, not necessarily. However is it really necessary to have your employees in the office for 8-hours per day. Depending on the nature of your business you may need some of your employees for 8-hours but you may not need everyone to work 8-hours.

   There have been several studies throughout the years that show shorter work hours result in better productivity and efficacy. Just as Henry Ford found out that the more rested employees are they will give you better out put in production other companies are thinking along the same line. In manufacturing a 6-hour shift will give you about the same out put as an 8-hour shift. Some companies that have cut their work week to 4 days a week giving their employees an extra day off found that their employees are fresher more relaxed more productive and efficient. Basecamp enforces a strict 32-hour work week during “Summer Hours” (May through September), which they find to result in a culture that not only draws top talent, but also ensures lower turnover rates due to loyal employees. 

   Now it is unlikely that most companies will soon change their ways and embrace the four-hour workday. But remember 4-hours might be the ideal amount of time to focus each day on your key responsibilities, you don't want to do the same thing for four hours in a row. Giving your brain some time off is essential to your ultimate success.

   Most experts who believe in restructuring the 8-hour workday believe that shorter shifts are key to keeping employees productive and happy. Giving them more time away from work to unwind can lead to better efforts during their shifts.

   Opponents to shortening the work week argue that this type of economic thinking can reduce competitiveness, increase staffing and management costs (particularly when 24-hour staffing is required), and further complicate a patch-work system of benefits and social supports.

   Countries who have found success with their programs, as well as those who advocate for others to adopt them, cite a number of benefits. Shorter working hours show improved recruiting, allowing businesses to be more competitive and reel in the most talented workforce. At a macro level, a shorter work week is part of a larger discussion about the changing workforce that includes flexibility of all kinds. 

   As these experiments continue around the world, it is worth asking ourselves, how are our current policies serving us, and why is it so hard to break away from the past?

   Boosting morale is not only good for your productivity, but also for the level of work and increased customer satisfaction and happy and healthy employees means a happier and healthier bottom line.