Facebook debate: Work day hours, is 6 the new 8?

Promoting health conscious living

Working six hours a day, five days a week sounds great! A relaxed and less stressed mind and body would surely work more efficiently as pointed out in the article, especially for result-oriented tasks. How many employers would agree on this point is a big question mark. A straight shift of six hours will give the employees ample quality time with the family and to socialise. As the world is getting more and more health conscious, I am sure this new work pattern will be adopted by civilised societies. Another advantage I can see is that we can cut down on the use of electricity consumption as the offices will be open for less hours. Somebody has taken the first step to try it out! More studies and research are sure to follow this subject.

From Mr Hanif M. Kalmata

Dubai

Two hours wasted

Countries should implement a 6-hour work day in contrast to the global norm of the 8-hour work day. Man is a social animal. Each one longs to spend time with family and if your family is happy, you tend to be happier and satisfied.

I believe that if the working is for shorter days we will feel more rested. Due to the 8 hour working pattern, it has become a dream to spend time for some training for a race or simply just cooking good food at home. I believe that shorter working hours will make an employee feel cared by the employer when the employees can prioritise their time with the family, cooking or doing something else they love doing.

Some people might say that working for 6 hours will give them less time for productivity, but how many of us are really working 8 hours sincerely? You need a break after every two hours to keep the continuity in your work. If working hours are less, a fully rested and happy person will do the work that is being done in eight hours in an effective way. Time is actually being misused in an 8- hour working pattern .

This implementation will motivate and give a happy life to the employees as well as the employers.

From Mr Anju Chhatwani

UAE

Stopping long hours

Labourers from many countries end up working long hours. Labour laws need to be constantly implemented. I find that many labourers feel they have to work more than 16 hours a day.

From Mr Shyju Shyjus

Adur, India

Wouldn’t work out

Would six-hour days make people more productive or put more pressure on people to perform? Most people take about 45 minutes in the morning to actually start doing work (in offices anyway). Take out the one-hour lunch (usually about an hour and fifteen minutes). Another 15 minutes to settle in after lunch. Count cigarette breaks in between if they smoke and coffee breaks and finally everyone stops being productive about 30 minutes before they go home.

Basically, people are productive for about 3 hours a day when they are 100 per cent productive. The rest of the time is spent talking, toilet breaks, phone calls, Facebook and news websites.

I don’t think 6 hours would make any difference in productivity or in an employee utilisation of time.

From Mr John Paravalos

Dubai

Work culture

I think a 6-hour working day is to make companies respect people’s time. Whether it’s Germany or Sweden, it shows they value time and it means that during working hours, they just work. If it’s implemented here, I feel that for the first hour people will shake hands, meet others and wish and complain about their job and salary. The next two hours they might work, but slower than usual since it’s start of the day. I agree that productivity happens for about three hours. So the potential in such circumstances is only four hours of work being done. Do you think this will work?

From Mr Yuvraj Rathore

Dubai

Cognitive function limited

The brain can work at its full capacity for four to five hours, and then it’s followed by a decline in energy and all cognitive functions of the brain. For example, a person can drive a car long distances for four to five hours, but the possibility of an accident increases compared to a two- to three-hour drive. Therefore, labour laws internationally should not force more than six hours of work per day, except in situations where the cognitive functions are relaxed.

From Mr Mohammad Zia Al Deen

UAE

Encourage balanced lives

I guess it’s a perfect solution to increase productivity, but by ensuring that the two hours of free time are used positively, each employee should need to use some of that time either at the gym or at least taking a walk at the park. If the decision helps to increase the potential of an individual, then it should be beneficial to both the employer and the employee. We could ensure a work-life balance.

From Mr Manoj Hingorani

Dubai

Reduces stress

I think it’s great and that a 6-hour day will decrease stress and increase more job opportunities for people.

From Mr M. Aurangzeb Jaan

UAE

It would be best

I am a labourer and I work very hard for eight hours a day. I want to decrease six hours and I think it would be best for all.

From Mr H. M.

UAE

Full name withheld on request

Not possible

Some people work 10-hour days. I think life is short and 6 hours would be wonderful, but the sad thing is that to make a living with the ever rising cost of goods and services, the employers would have to give major raises in pay and that will not happen.

From Ms Kim Loftis

UAE

Report violations

I read all the comments, and I want people to understand that if your company is asking you to work more than eight hours, then this a violation of the labour law and it is your duty to report it, otherwise nothing will be done. Whining will not help because the authorities can’t act without your complaint. For them you might be working normal hours or getting overtime.

About six hours or eight hours, it will be easy to be done, especially with the smart systems we have now. It allows us to do work from anywhere. With advanced technology, I think it’s possible.

From Mr Mohammad Al Hajeri

Al Ain

Sleep deprivation

Productivity will be increased only when employees are happy. Only a happy employee can satisfy his customer. Reducing working hours will definitely make employees happy and it will enable them to spend more time with their near and dear ones. The biggest challenge in the private sector is the start of work at early hours. For many the day starts with a disappointing note and sleep deprivation will keep one inactive during the beginning of the day. This disparity in sleeping is a matter of concern and is more important than reducing working hours.

From Mr Girish R. Edathitta

Dubai

Longer weekend

I’d prefer to retain the eight-hour day in exchange for a three-day weekend!

From Ms Claudelle Khenfoussi

UAE

Productivity studies

That’s an interesting point. In Canada, our government is trying to implement a three-day weekend at least once a month because they found that it increases productivity.

From Ms Jessica Woods

Toronto, Canada

Difficult for employers

Six hours of work is good for the employee, but how does an employer manage those kinds of hours?

From Mr Sajeesh Puthalath

UAE

Healthier workforce

The studies on what is being implemented in Sweden show that it will result in less staff needing sick days and absences from work.

From Ms Anna-Karin Marquard

UAE

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