Off and on, the Federal Government has been intending to switch back to a 6-day working week. For many years after independence, we would work six days a week whereas the developed countries reverted to 5-day working week in 1940s. The idea of a 5-day working week was first conceived by Henry Ford in 1926. He then standardized the working hours without making a cut in employees’ salaries. Later, most of the European countries followed it. This injected happiness into the life of European workers, which led society towards peace and sustainability.
Some of us still believe that working longer is more productive. Yes, it can be productive in sectors where physical force (and not mental work) is required like industry and agriculture, and if the workers are paid equitable salaries.
In a five-year study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, participants completed a variety of tests to evaluate intelligence, verbal recall, and vocabulary. The study showed that the people who worked 55 hours per week manifested poor vocabulary and logical reasoning compared to those who worked 40 hours a week.
One emerging concept gaining attractions is the 4-day working week. However, completing 40 hours of work a week could mean working 10 hours a day. It might have positive environmental implications, less commuting, saving costs resulting in reduced fuel consumption, and less pollution. In Netherlands, women work 29 hours a week on average. In project-based organizations, the emphasis is on project completion rather than the number of hours put in. They have flexible work arrangements and even remote working. Such outfits have even shifted to a 4-day working week. Some others are planning to do the same. This will result in promoting work-life balance. As a result, such organizations will foster attraction and retention of talent.
However, most organizations favour a 5-day working week. According to a survey carried out by Resume Builders in April 2024, 81 per cent of business leaders say that a 4-day working week would improve work-life balance. 80 per cent said it would improve mental health, 80 per cent say it would improve morale, 69 per cent say it would improve retention of talent, 67 per cent say it would improve productivity. However, only 49 per cent believe that it would improve revenue.
Experience shows that a 5-day working week provides employees time for rest and recouperation. Employees are more focused and productive. It reduces absenteeism. It is suitable for government offices, educational institutions, and think tanks. However, a 6-day working week might be necessary for certain business organizations, industrial units such as healthcare, and customer services.
Recently, a small British Company, Lumen, SEO Consultancy has gone a step further. It first timed out four-day work week which resulted in well-satisfied employees, enhanced productivity and no turnover. Then it allowed its employees to work flexibly and use 32-hour work week in seven days if the targets are met. The only collective requirement being three hours per week for meetings and training. The Lumen CEO says,” I think we micro-manage our teams too much. We wrongly assume that a certain type of schedule is the best route to productivity, but everyone is different, this model is therefore based on key qualities: self-discipline, autonomy and organisational skills. It’s not for everyone, and some employees have not been able to adapt to this level of freedom. On the other hand, those who share the company’s values can find an optimal personal and professional balance.”
In our working environment, especially in the government offices, some senior employees very seldom respect the laid down working hours. They come late and leave early. Some do not return to work after lunch. On Fridays, they call it a day after Juma prayers. For 40 hours they hardly put in 25 hours per week. Besides, in some units, there is not much to do. In such offices, whether you have a 5-day or 6-day working week, the productivity will remain the same.
The provincial governments are still observing the 6-day working week. To check the results of the 5-day working week, a comparison between the performance of federal and provincial government departments should be drawn so that a clearcut conclusion could be outlined before making any decision.
Pakistan is a hot weather country, as hot climates prevail all over the plain areas, including Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In these areas, the temperature usually rises to 50 0C in summers. The southern part is the most marked part by aridity and high temperatures. Persistent energy crisis adds more to the woes of people impacting their performance badly. This crisis is likely to continue for an unknown period, as our policy makers and implementers lack the will and wisdom to resolve this crisis. In such a situation, working 6 days a week will not be a good option.
What is the best way forward? Primarily we should be strict on a 5-day working week. This should also be extended to the provinces. A strategy needs to be devised in this regard. Provincial governments should also start observing this by devising different strategies for different sectors. For government offices and the education sector, there should be a 5-day working week. For other sectors and organizations, the required arrangement for a working week should be left to them. A study is underway to find out which units in the public organizations should be wound up. Working hours should be strictly followed. Any violation should result in salary cuts as is done in some private organizations.
(The writer is a Senior Advisor Emeritus at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute Islamabad.)
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