In yesterday’s Advisor we discussed the history of the 8-hour workday and some beliefs about how it might be modified with great success. Today we’ll look at the potential benefits of the 6-hour workday.
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Potential Benefits to a Shortened Workday
Organizations in Sweden are testing this theory of minimal productivity loss with a 6-hour workday and are finding it to be true in many cases. They’ve found other benefits too, even in situations where the extra hours must be made up by other workers. A good example of this situation is for nurses. Patients need care around the clock, so a shorter workday for an individual means that more nurses will need to be brought on to cover all of the hours (productivity is not measured in output in these situations). This will only increase labor costs if everyone involved is salaried; if everyone is paid by the hour, it might actually reduce labor costs due to the reduction in overtime pay. Either way, they’re finding it also results in improvements in other areas that offset increased labor costs. In this example, one major benefit was found in improved patient care because the nursing staff was well-rested and better able to attend to patient needs.
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There are many other potential benefits as well. Employees gain valuable time to spend outside of work. This can allow fewer work disruptions because it allows greater flexibility in appointment scheduling, child care, and more. It can even help with employee wellness because it can allow employees to be less stressed and can provide time for more activities to be done without encroaching on sleep—it can even allow time for fitness-related activities!
In turn, employees who are better-rested and less stressed make fewer mistakes and have better morale. This work environment can lead to fewer arguments or other conflicts. Overall, employees are happier, have higher energy levels, and have fewer workplace accidents. Over time, it can even result in less turnover (thus lowering the associated costs) and can make it easier to recruit new employees when necessary. Employers can also see other direct improvements to the bottom line in the form of reduced absences and fewer breaks.
Is this something your organization would benefit from? Some view the 6-hour workday as a radical change, but others are saying that it makes perfect sense and could be an ideal path forward. We’re all waiting to see how it plays out in Sweden to see what happens next.
Wouldn’t it be nice if setting the number of hours in a workweek was your only problem? If only that were the case.
With so much jargon, so many acronyms, and a plethora of solutions, it’s not easy to figure out what solutions will help you organize, streamline and improve employee-related processes. Wouldn’t it be nice to simply bypass the buzzwords and look at what’s really important−the key metrics that your organization needs to boost productivity, streamline management, and reduce compliance risks?
Fortunately there’s timely help in the form of a free new webcast—Metrics that Matter for Managing Employees. In just 60 minutes, on Tuesday, December 15, you’ll learn everything you need to know about what’s really important when it comes to HR metrics.
Register today for this free, interactive webcast, thanks to Kronos.
Cut through the red tape, and join us Tuesday, December 15, 2015, for a free interactive webcast, Metrics that Matter for Managing Employees. Earn 1 hour in HRCI Recertification Credit and 1 hour in SHRM Professional Development Credit. Register Now
By participating in this interactive webcast, you’ll learn:
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) that your organization needs to measure in this area, and why?
- How they can provide you with specific actionable insights to streamline processes and improve business results?
- How can integrated employee management solutions help you improve performance and drive business health, growth, and sustainability?
- And more!
Register now for this event risk-free.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Eastern)
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Central)
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Mountain)
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Pacific)
Approved for Recertification Credit and Professional Development Credit
This program has been approved for 1 credit hour toward recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) and 1 credit hour towards SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM.
Join us on Tuesday, December 15, 2015—you’ll get the free, in-depth Metrics that Matter for Managing Employees webcast AND you’ll get all of your particular questions answered by our experts.
Train Your Entire Staff
As with all BLR®/HR Hero® webcasts:
• Train all the staff you can fit around a conference phone.
• Get your (and their) specific phoned-in or e-mailed questions answered in Q&A sessions that follow the presentation.