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Can working fewer hours make you more productive?

1st Feb 2016
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CABA provides lifelong support for past and present ICAEW members.

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The most recent CABA wellbeing survey suggests 46% of chartered accountants in this country work more than 40 hours a week, with 22% working 47 hours a week or longer. The Office for National Statistics also claims that more than 6 million people in Britain – whatever their occupation – work more than 45 hours a week. 
 
But are all those extra hours doing us, or the economy any good?
 
Not according to a YouGov survey, which suggests British people feel they would be more productive with a shorter working day. More than half of those taking part in the survey said they’d be most productive if they worked 7 hours a day. 
 
And 7 out of 10 said the nation would be a happier one if the working week was just 4 days instead of 5, with more than half believing the country would be more productive economically or no less productive than at present. 
 
Historical evidence
 
Indeed, many studies suggest that output doesn’t increase proportionally when you work longer hours. Even back in the 19th century, industry owners had started to realise that fewer hours meant workers putting in more effort, with employers who reduced working hours finding their businesses becoming more productive and profitable. 
 
In 1848, parliament passed a law that limited the number of hours worked per day to 10. Then in the 1890s, many employers started putting their workers on 8 hour days, and found their output actually increased. One famous example is that of the American car manufacturer Henry Ford. In 1914, Ford doubled his workers’ pay and cut their working hours from 9 to 8 a day. As a result, productivity boomed and business was allegedly never better. 
 
Other employers followed suit, and the 40-hour week became standard, not just in the US but in Europe too.
 
Today, workers across Europe put in varying amounts of time at the office. But again, longer working hours doesn’t mean countries are better off. In fact, the most recent statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), shows that greater economic wealth is linked with lower working hours. For instance, people in Germany on average work 6 hours less per week than British workers. 
Sweden is another country where you may be more likely to work fewer hours, and currently some businesses are reported to be experimenting with a 6 hour day. One business in particular – an app developer based in Stockholm – reduced the number of staff meetings and asked employees not to spend time on personal tasks during work hours. As a result, its working day is 6 hours long, yet there has been no perceivable drop in productivity.
 
Health concerns
 
Working fewer hours may also benefit your health. One recent study, published in the medical journal The Lancet, found that people who toil for long hours are more likely to suffer a stroke than those working fewer hours. Working more than 55 hours a week, the study claims, may make a stroke 33%more likely than working 35-40 hours a week. 
 
Professor John Ashton, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, also believes working fewer hours could help reduce the number of cases of high blood pressure and mental ill health. He recently recommended moving towards a 4 day week to tackle health problems, particularly mental health issues  among the UK population. 
 
Working long hours has also been shown to make people drink more alcohol. According to experts at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, working long hours may increase your risk of becoming a heavy drinker by about 12%. 
 
Other studies have shown links between working long hours and type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, sleep problems and memory problems. 
 
If you’re concerned about the number of extra hours you work, or that you’re regularly working longer hours than those stated in your contract of employment, talk to your employer or HR manager. And remember, we can help if you need advice on tackling your employer about this or any other work issue. 
 
Call us on +44 (0) 1788 556366 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or chat to an advisor online. 
 
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