Dear Friends and Students
In the 1990s, many of my friends moved to the US and Europe - Most of the conversations ended up with the better quality of life and work-life balance available in Western business. It is strict 5 day working and employees are discouraged to attend office on Saturdays. Over a period of time, it got gradually implemented in India as well in few sectors.
In 1890, It was estimated that a full-time employee worked for 100 hours per week in a manufacturing plant in the US. It was reduced to 40 hours per week in the mid-20th century. (www.changerecruitmentgroup.com). The world of automation is bringing a lot of change. This move is inevitable. The human brain can leverage this free time for a better purpose, quality of life, family relationships, better ideas, and higher productivity.
However, it is a slightly different case in the Indian scenario. We have a 48-hour week, span across 6 days, with 8 hours per day. We need to look at 1.2 billion population needs. We need to feed a large population. These extra 8 hours is inevitable in our context. There is a talk about India planning for a 4-Day work week. Ministry is working on this proposal it seems. The proposal is considering the 4 day-48 hours’ model. It means there will be long working hours (12-hour shift) but LOOONG WEEEKEND.
Let’s discuss the merits and demerits of this proposal. Personally, I feel this model works, provided all employees take this move in a positive spirit. They can use this extra free time for better engagement and meaningful life.
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics would give better access to the workplace and remote management of the systems. Teachers have already proved how to handle students remotely. The core & critical concepts of teaching, exams, and evaluation, team management related projects can be handled physically at Colleges and Schools. The peripheral activities can be managed remotely. This gives extra time and space for kids and students to think out-of-box. Students can be engaged in creative work. Otherwise, today on the name of few entrance examinations, students are slogging long hours and short/no weekends.
Stanford University research found an interesting equation: 60 x P60 < 40 x P40. It means, “Overwork has been observed to lead to a decrease in total output, Hence the average productivity got decreased (P60)”. P40 is normal 40 hours work productivity. It is found that “the increased number of hours worked per week, say 60, multiplied by the decreased average productivity is less than total output produced under normal work hours” (cs.stanford.edu).
Students, Very Interesting insight right!! I am sure it is quite applicable to you as well. It does not matter how much oil burnt during mid-night! It matters how much content absorbed during mid-day!!!!
As per New Zealand based company, Perpetual Guardian study, it is found that 4-day working week reduced employee stress by 45% to 38%.4-day week will reduce medical bills as employees get enough rest for the body, so as to better health.
It will also lead to huge Ecological benefits. A study was conducted in the US State of Utah for government employees. They reduced working days to 4 days working. “During the first ten months, the project saved over US$1.8million in energy costs and a reduction of at least 6,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions”. If they include travel as well, it is going to be 12,000 metric tons of CO2, equal to removing 2,300 cars off the road for one year!!
Now you can imagine, how much CO2 can be saved in India for the working population in India? Definitely, it is going to be a wise idea. However, we need to take the following precautions into consideration while implementing this proposal. Customer satisfaction should not be hit. Few employees might misuse this facility. We should also prepare employees to work 12 hours long while enjoying 3 days off! If these 2 issues are well-taken care of and guarded, it is going to be a great decision by Govt. Let’s wait how it works in the Indian context?!
Alan Cohen says “There is Virtue in Work and There is Virtue in Rest. Use Both and Overlook Neither”
Your Well-wisher
Ravi Saripalle
Join Inspire to Innovate Storytelling Movement (i2itm.blogspot.com)
cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/crunchmode/econ-hours-productivity.html
www.changerecruitmentgroup.com/knowledge-centre/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-4-day-working-week
Source Inspiration: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/new-labour-codes-india-four-day-week-7182376/
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