Short work weeks may seem like a dream to many.
You're in and out of the office in just four short days, you can split work feeling productive again, and what's more, you have a three-day weekend to enjoy every week. In fact, according to studies, four-day weeks seem to be liked by everyone. But what is the problem?
The problem with short work weeks
Unfortunately, there are some problems with this seemingly perfect schedule, and executing it well is not that simple. Allard Dembe, professor of public health at Ohio State University, is an expert on longer-than-average work days.
Having studied the effects of longer working hours for 30 years, he says that while it might be nice to have an extra day off, working long hours can cause some serious problems.
1. Costs for your health
Dembe's study shows that workplace accidents increase when employees work 12 or more consecutive hours. While workers in warehouses may begin to find it difficult to operate heavy machinery after such a long time, workers in offices may also suffer accidents at work, such as repetitive strain injuries or dizziness, if they are disoriented from using computer extension.
Also, working in front of a computer for more than ten hours a day (which unfortunately is the main part of the busy work week) results in back and neck problems, or eye strain.
2. Productivity
Apart from health problems, working hours play a big role in your productivity. According to numerous studies, efficiency at work drops drastically the longer you work. This means that you only have certain productive moments during the day. Some even say that shorter work hours make teams less prone to making mistakes.
So while you're trying to fit all of your mandatory work hours into just four days, productivity can drop. Then, when the three-day weekend rolls around, you'll be preoccupied thinking about all the things you didn't get to close during the week.
3. Work-life balance
Instead of having five working days in a busy week, you will have four longer days. This results in less time needed to travel to and from work, as well as more days off. But Dembe also says this can create less flexibility on days you're in the office.
When you work ten or more hours a day, it goes without saying that you will have less time for your family and friends.
Busy schedules mean you're basically spending four days doing almost nothing but going to work, working, sleeping, eating and maybe doing some short personal activities like the gym. This might not be the ideal style for some people who need more time each day to de-stress. /Hive/ Monitor/
