Spinning off a little from this topic I think it would be interesting hearing what people consider an optimal working week would look like. Weighing different factor against each other, such as the total productivity against productivity rate against the end of a long working day, economic wealth against less working hours and quality of life etc. One may argue that as we have economic growth and productivity goes up we should take some of that to shorten the working hours leaving more time to spend with the children, family and friends. Others may argue that it's not worth slowing down the economy.
What working week scheme do you consider to be optimal?
- Thread starter Humus
- Start date
My personal pref is 8x4... but voted 7x5 by default. I already do that in a 9 day bi weekly pay at 67.5 hrs paid though was hired fulltime at 10 days 75 hrs. Personal choice regarding quality fo life and the fact I do shiftwork. I love the union contract giving me that option which costs the employer nothing as I simply take the cut in pay and benefits...
I voted 7 hours due to the fact that a typical work day comprises 7 hours work and 1 hour lunch/relaxation period. However, even that usually gets trimmed down to 6 hours of actual work. Why? People generally get up from their desk for 5 minutes or so and stretch and look away from your monitor, or at least you're supposed to, once every half hour. Over the course of 7 work hours, that works out to 70 minutes, i.e. a little over an hour.
It's also been shown that productivity tails off significantly in the last hour of the work day. However, some studies have shown that 10 minute power naps during the early afternoon (usually after lunch) negate this productivity decline at the end of the day.
It's also been shown that productivity tails off significantly in the last hour of the work day. However, some studies have shown that 10 minute power naps during the early afternoon (usually after lunch) negate this productivity decline at the end of the day.
9 hours *5 days.... get every other friday off... That is a good schedule....
Realistically thats what I would have to do to ge my work done...
when it is slow.. I work 6 hours.. (salary tho
).. I find that to bethe optimal time...
I have worked 12 shift work... didnt care forit...2 weeks on 1 week off... Not fun..at all
Realistically thats what I would have to do to ge my work done...
when it is slow.. I work 6 hours.. (salary tho
).. I find that to bethe optimal time...I have worked 12 shift work... didnt care forit...2 weeks on 1 week off... Not fun..at all
CosmoKramer
Newcomer
Natoma said:
Really? Here in Sweden a typical work day is 8 hours, 1 hour break excluded.
Example, 0800 to 1700.
According to the convention used so far in this thread I guess you mean 10x4, unless you got 10 day weeks over at your place.
Personally I liked the model used at the company I used to work for in the summers the last few years. Basically, it was 9 hours at work but one hour for lunch, so 8 working hours. But then we had what was called "coffee break on working time", which basically means we took a coffee break though it counted as working time. We had two each day and they usually lasted for half an hour, so we really had only 7 hours of actual work. Though I'm pretty certain that I produced more with this model than I would have done without the coffee breaks and the additional working time.
Personally I liked the model used at the company I used to work for in the summers the last few years. Basically, it was 9 hours at work but one hour for lunch, so 8 working hours. But then we had what was called "coffee break on working time", which basically means we took a coffee break though it counted as working time. We had two each day and they usually lasted for half an hour, so we really had only 7 hours of actual work. Though I'm pretty certain that I produced more with this model than I would have done without the coffee breaks and the additional working time.
Dr. Ffreeze
Regular
Humus,
My personal optimal work week is 8 hours a day, 4 days a week (32 hour week). I would be paid 20% less than someone that worked a full 40 hours a week but I would get to spend 3 days off with my family.
As long as I have enough for my family to eat well, have a decent house, reliable transportation, and a bit extra for luxury items, then that is all I really need. The time I spend with my family is much more important than any extra money I would get by working more hours in the week.
Dr. Ffreeze
My personal optimal work week is 8 hours a day, 4 days a week (32 hour week). I would be paid 20% less than someone that worked a full 40 hours a week but I would get to spend 3 days off with my family.
As long as I have enough for my family to eat well, have a decent house, reliable transportation, and a bit extra for luxury items, then that is all I really need. The time I spend with my family is much more important than any extra money I would get by working more hours in the week.
Dr. Ffreeze