Contact us today!
866-348-2602

Total Tech Care Blog

Total Tech Care has been serving Florida since 2001, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

Shocking Study on the Work Week Suggests Shorter is Better

Shocking Study on the Work Week Suggests Shorter is Better

Many critics of a shorter work week believe that cutting the number of hours worked throughout the workday or work week could potentially lead to a decrease in productivity, but a new study from Iceland suggests that this simply is not reality. This study suggests that productivity should no longer be a cause for concern when it comes to a shorter work week, as its astounding results show what really happens when you reduce the number of hours worked without reducing pay.

Introduction to the Study

The study, published by Autonomy and Alda, as well as the Association for Democracy and Sustainability in June of 2021, took place over five years and examined workers from several different industries in Iceland. There were two parts to the study: one conducted by the city of ReykjavĂ­k and another performed by the Icelandic government. In both parts, employees worked shorter hours during the work week.

Of particular note here is that the employees participating in these trials did not suffer a reduced salary or wage while working fewer hours. They worked an average of 35 or 36 hours per work week while the control group worked the standard 40 hours expected of most positions. By the end of the study, it involved around 2,500 employees from over 100 workplaces.

Both trials hoped that shorter work hours could address poor work-life balance and improve productivity; the results might surprise you!

The Results

The results of this study showcases that the shorter work week presented several benefits to employees. The study found that these trials showed reductions in working hours “maintained or increased productivity and service provision” and also “improved workers’ wellbeing and work-life balance.”

The report examines the following:

  • How effectively work time was reduced
  • How service provision and productivity were affected
  • Whether improvements in workers’ wellbeing and work-life balance took place

One of the reasons why employers are so worried about shorter working hours is that it can unintentionally lead to overwork as a result of having fewer hours in the workday to get things done, but the anecdotal evidence suggests that this is simply not true. Employees found that it was easier to organize themselves and their work processes with the shorter workday. This goes for managers, too.

Service provision was also unaffected—at least, in a negative way. As evidenced by the study, “On the whole, indicators of service provision and productivity either stayed within expected levels of variation, or rose during the period of the trial.”

In perhaps the most interesting part of this study, we get to the wellbeing and work-life balance aspects of shorter work days and weeks. The indicators for this part of the study were examined close to the end of the study, where stress levels and energy levels were measured. For work-life balance, employees in the shorter work day group discovered that they had much more free time to spend time with their families and were less likely to say no to overtime when it was needed. They were also less likely to take on a part-time job.  Other benefits included easier-to-do errands, more balance in participation in home duties, more time for oneself, less stress at home, more exercise, and so many others. It is evident that work-life balance saw many improvements for these employees.

What do you think about shortening your workdays? Do you think that maybe everyone could make use of a couple extra hours to enjoy life on a Friday afternoon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Comments

No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment
Already Registered? Login Here
Guest
Thursday, 24 April 2025
If you'd like to register, please fill in the username, password and name fields.

Blog Archive

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

  • First Name *
  • Last Name *

      Free Consultation

      Sign up today for a
      FREE Network Consultation

      How secure is your IT infrastructure?
      Let us evaluate it for free!

      Sign up Now!

      Free Consultation
       

      Tag Cloud

      Security Tip of the Week Technology Best Practices Business Computing Cloud Privacy Hackers Productivity Hosted Solutions Efficiency Software Google Business Network Security Microsoft Internet Email Malware Workplace Tips Backup Innovation Data User Tips Computer Mobile Devices Hardware IT Services Android VoIP Disaster Recovery communications Smartphones IT Support Communication Business Continuity Miscellaneous Smartphone Mobile Device Network Browser Small Business Productivity Collaboration Quick Tips Cybersecurity Business Management Users Phishing Upgrade Managed IT Services Windows Outsourced IT Ransomware Data Backup Windows 10 Office Cloud Computing Server Save Money Data Recovery Passwords Windows 10 Saving Money Holiday Tech Term Chrome Social Media Virtualization Gadgets Microsoft Office Automation Managed IT Services Managed Service Artificial Intelligence Operating System Facebook Computers Cybercrime Mobile Device Management Wi-Fi Networking IT Support Hacking Internet of Things Health BYOD Spam Office 365 Remote Managed Service Provider Telephone Systems Information Technology Covid-19 Information Alert Bandwidth Social Engineering Mobility Router Recovery BDR Employer-Employee Relationship Remote Monitoring Password Money Encryption Big Data App Applications History Data Breach Law Enforcement Human Resources Mobile Computing Application Mobile Office Apps Data Storage Patch Management Office Tips Training VPN Government Blockchain Paperless Office Private Cloud Remote Computing Managed IT How To HaaS Bring Your Own Device Infrastructure Data Management Voice over Internet Protocol Work/Life Balance Vulnerability Windows 7 Word Wireless Google Drive Servers Gmail Avoiding Downtime Flexibility Settings Marketing WiFi Data Security Two-factor Authentication IT solutions Entertainment Website Budget Mouse Cleaning User Error Meetings End of Support Conferencing Education Risk Management Physical Security Data Protection Hacker Safety Scam Sports HIPAA Redundancy The Internet of Things Lithium-ion battery Vendor Keyboard Managed Services Vendor Management Display Firewall Employee/Employer Relationship Telephone System Staff Software as a Service RMM Machine Learning Virtual Reality Save Time Apple Connectivity Remote Work USB Social Identity Theft IT Consultant Electronic Medical Records Spam Blocking Computing Infrastructure Digital Signage Going Green Hiring/Firing Humor Augmented Reality Wearable Technology Fraud Retail Hard Drives Procurement Battery Instant Messaging Workplace Strategy Robot Shadow IT Excel Net Neutrality Remote Worker Legal Help Desk Cryptocurrency Biometrics Business Intelligence Virtual Desktop Internet Exlporer Printing Worker Audit PDF IT Management Comparison DDoS Managed Services Provider Botnet CES SharePoint IT Plan Proactive IT Database Virus Best Practice Remote Workers Business Technology Unified Threat Management Content Management Unsupported Software Customer Service YouTube Computer Accessories Access Control Black Market Environment Processor Charger Virtual Assistant Fax Server Authentication Compliance Hard Drive Computer Care Document Management OneNote SaaS Solid State Drive Wireless Technology Current Events Printer How to Telephony Downtime Bluetooth Update Samsung Computing Network Congestion Data storage Google Docs Value Automobile eWaste Devices Outlook Leadership Messaging Tablets Troubleshooting Cabling Administrator Hypervisor Enterprise Content Management Start Menu Monitor Policy Entrepreneur Screen Mirroring Dark mode Loyalty Trend Micro MSP Accountants Thought Leadership Frequently Asked Questions Credit Cards Shortcut SMS Books Default App Microchip Streaming Media Saving Time Password Management Mobile Password Manager Reputation Windows 10s Procedure Cost Management Cast Multi-Factor Security dark theme Social Networking Tech Support Shopping Google Search Content Twitter Techology Tip of the week Laptop webinar AI Emergency IT Infrastructure Search Engine Employer Employee Relationship Bing NIST Professional Services Business Mangement Customers Public Cloud FinTech Trending Assessment Social Network Consultant Audiobook Smart Tech Running Cable Analytics Addiction Windows Server 2008 Amazon Touchpad Memory Investment Employee/Employer Relationships Tools Recycling Employees Advertising Windows 365 Television Best Available ISP Wiring Politics Practices Cache Amazon Web Services Video Conferencing WIndows 7 ROI Notifications Bitcoin Shortcuts Safe Mode Criminal Sales Point of Sale Public Computer Personal Science Cryptomining GDPR Hosted Computing Wireless Internet Regulations Online Shopping Supply Chain Management Transportation Rootkit Batteries File Sharing Relocation Computer Fan Monitoring Specifications Windows 8.1 Customer Relationship Management Digitize Camera Inventory Distributed Denial of Service PowerPoint Wire Windows Media Player Video Games Evernote Workers Analyitcs User Benefits Windows Server 2008 R2 Worker Commute FENG Travel Customer relationships Programming Millennials Email Best Practices IBM IT Assessment Manufacturing Printers Experience Smart Office Scalability Flash Wireless Charging Managing Stress Smart Technology Managed IT Service Security Cameras Business Owner Antivirus Computer Tips Software Tips Workforce Virtual CIO NarrowBand Supercomputer OneDrive Windows 8 Biometric Security Virtual Private Network Cameras Search Sync Cables IT service Emails Peripheral Digital Security Cameras Using Data iPhone Nanotechnology Telecommuting Copiers Tablet 5G Project Management Cortana Domains Netflix Quick Tip Two Factor Authentication Root Cause Analysis Ergonomics Smartwatch Digital Signature Files IaaS HBO Maintenance Chromecast Knowledge Development Music OLED Warranty Printer Server Virtual Machine HVAC Skype Google Apps PCI DSS Bloatware Data loss 2FA Uninterrupted Power Supply Fiber Optics Employee Analysis Colocation

      Top Blog

      The reasoning for this is simple: you want to make sure that operations are proceeding as intended, even if you’re not there. If you completely check out from the workplace every time you leave, you could return from your vacation to a complete and total disaster that may have been prevented with y...
      QR-Code