Time to let your boss know: A study shows employees function best in a three-day work week.
Japanese researchers analyzed the employment habits and cognitive test scores for 3,000 Australian men and 3,500 women, all over the age of 40. They found working 25 hours per week achieved the best test scores.
“Work can be a double edged sword, in that it can stimulate brain activity, but at the same time, long working hours and certain types of tasks can cause fatigue and stress which potentially damage cognitive functions,” the study says. “Thus, the degree of intellectual stimulation of work may depend on the required task and working hours, that is, the quality and the quantity of work.”
The researchers theorize that the lower number of work hours are more necessary for people over the age of 40 so they avoid burnout after already spending decades in the workforce.
The study measured cognitive function with scores on three tests, which included reading words aloud, reciting lists of numbers and linking letters and numbers in a certain pattern under time pressure.
There was little difference in the study’s findings between men and women for peak cognitive function, but there were in other areas.
Women’s cognitive peaks tended to be higher than men’s on all three tests, however, women’s cognitive function dropped off more quickly than men’s after they worked a certain number of hours. For both sexes, not working any hours was associated with a comparably low cognitive level, and men could work between 55 and 60 hours per week before their cognitive function dropped lower than if they were working no hours at all. For women, the number of working hours that produced the same result was between 45 and 50.
“It is found that working hours up to 25–30 hours per week have a positive impact on cognition for males depending on the measure and up to 22–27 hours for females,” the study concludes. “After that, working hours have a negative impact on cognitive functioning.”
The study did not look at younger age groups, so it’s unclear if the results would be the same for all ages or if millennials could work longer hours without mental burnout.
Poster Comment:
#1: misterwhite To: Willie Green (#0)
New study: "Seven-day workweek is the most productive for employers".
You know. The ones with the money? The ones signing the paychecks?
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-25 10:23:40 Reply Private Reply
#2: Justified To: Willie Green (#0)
60hr work week is what I normally work now. Im getting too old to work 60hrs plus any more for the pay in this crappy economy!
Justified posted on 2016-08-25 10:48:15 Reply Private Reply
#3: Deckard To: Willie Green (#0)
Deckard posted on 2016-08-25 11:12:30 Reply Private Reply
#4: misterwhite To: Willie Green (#0)
But if you cram those 25-30 per week into three days, aren't we right back where we started?
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-25 11:23:50 Reply Private Reply
#5: Stoner To: Deckard (#3)
When I was at the phone co, we did that. It worked good. The co was happy, and the employees were happy.
Stoner posted on 2016-08-25 11:32:51 Reply Private Reply
#6: Fred Mertz To: Deckard (#3)
I know some guys who have (or had) similar work schedules. Those with 30 or 40 mile one-way commutes enjoyed their fuel savings back when Dumbya was prez and gas prices were way high for Cheney's pocketbook.
Fred Mertz posted on 2016-08-25 11:46:10 Reply Private Reply
#7: Deckard To: Justified (#2)
Why not just hire more workers at the same or lower wages?
9 employees @ 40 hours per week equals 360 man-hours.
Hire 3 more for a total of 12, each working 30 hours per week and you still have workers putting in the same amount of hours.
Also - when employees work less than 40 hours per week, you are not required to offer health insurance.
So you are actually spending less money for the same production.
Deckard posted on 2016-08-25 12:51:22 Reply Private Reply
#8: Justified To: Deckard (#7)
People are already under paid and you want to slash their pay so they can have more time off?
Then the employer will have to hire more people and pay out more benefits.
This is a no win for private business in this. Everything would cost more which would cause business owners to dump American works for illegal aliens who would work from dust till dawn.
Justified posted on 2016-08-25 14:12:41 Reply Private Reply
#9: nolu chan To: Deckard, Justified (#7)
The savings would be much greater having the employees working part-time at 29 hours a week. Some U.S. companies are doing just that. More will be joining the party. There will be screams about a living wage and health care.
nolu chan posted on 2016-08-25 15:09:59 Reply Private Reply
#10: paraclete To: Willie Green (#0)
paraclete posted on 2016-08-25 18:59:18 Reply Private Reply
#11: Justified To: nolu chan, Deckard (#9)
You and I know that it would not take long until the febs would demand 20 be the new 40. That way the all business would be forced to pay living wage with full benefits to part timers while production goes down because everyone is thinking about how they are going to fill their week of not working.
There is nothing wrong with 40 hrs a week, 8hrs days 5 days a week. I dream of those days!!!
Justified posted on 2016-08-26 08:28:30 Reply Private Reply
#12: nolu chan To: Justified (#11)
I was referring to the one hour difference between the employer being required to cover Obamacare for a full time employee (30 hours) or avoid Obamacare for a part time employee (29 hours). If an employer is going to 30, he will almost certainly go one more to 29 and save a bunch under current law.
nolu chan posted on 2016-08-26 13:45:46 Reply Private Reply
#13: Justified To: nolu chan (#12)
I get it.
I have to assume everyone is naive to the progressive ways and spell out reality of the situation. Someone that is not as savvy as us will read the post and think gee thats a great idea when it would stop what little is left of the American economy in its track.
Justified posted on 2016-08-26 14:11:04 Reply Private Reply