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Sweden’s proposed six-hour workday

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Sweden’s proposed six-hour workday

#21

Post by iamtew »

skrause wrote: post #7

If someone gave me the chance of a 30-hour work week, I would rather work 4 days of 7,5 hours than 5 days of 6 hours. Just the hassle of getting up early, dressing up for work, commuting etc. isn't really worth it when I'm only going to work 6 hours anyway. I'd rather take an extra day off.

This is a fairly common thing here in the Netherlands actually, four day work week. Most of my colleagues I know who does this to have some extra time with their family/kids.

Usually it's a split in the middle of the week or something, for example my manager doesn't work tuesday's, it's his "papadag" as he then spends time with his kids and don't have to send them off to day-care or get a nanny.

Another colleague of mine dropped his contract from 40 hours a week down to 32 hours so he would have an extra day to work on his music career and an upcoming album.

Obviously these arrangements will affect your salary as you work less.

Re: Sweden’s proposed six-hour workday

#22

Post by bartkappenburg »

I'm Dutch and I work 4 days a week. My productivity in my startup is the same. This is what researchers say about our average number of hours per week:

For example, Dutch workers are on par with American workers in terms of productivity per hour. They pay higher taxes and earn less than Americans. But on average, they work roughly 11 weeks less than their American counterparts each year, have access to government-funded health care, pay little or nothing for a college education, and have far more leisure time than the American. When UNICEF recently ranked 21 industrialized nations by well-being for children, Netherlands was on top and the United States was near the bottom, in 20th place.

Re: Sweden’s proposed six-hour workday

#23

Post by easytiger »

bartkappenburg wrote: post #22

I'm Dutch and I work 4 days a week. My productivity in my startup is the same. This is what researchers say about our average number of hours per week: For example, Dutch workers are on par with American workers in terms of productivity per hour. They pay higher taxes and earn less than Americans. But on average, they work roughly 11 weeks less than their American counterparts each year, have access to government-fun…

For the day off does the entire company not work or do different people take different days off. My reasoning is because if you are working supporting a 24x5 or 24x7 platform then you need full time cover.

Re: Sweden’s proposed six-hour workday

#24

Post by blencdr »

showsover wrote: post #13
skrause wrote: post #7

If someone gave me the chance of a 30-hour work week, I would rather work 4 days of 7,5 hours than 5 days of 6 hours. Just the hassle of getting up early, dressing up for work, commuting etc. isn't really worth it when I'm only going to work 6 hours anyway. I'd rather take an extra day off.

Yes, but the article is about 6-hour days, not mix-and-match-hour days. It will be interesting to see what differs from 8-hour days, both in free time, shopping, traffic, and more. Imagine that the 6-hour day is successful, and we can make shifts. Some people go to work from 8 - 2, others from 12-6. That could lighten some traffic jams I venture.

I'm not sure that a small businesses can afford to make shifts (or 4 days week) if the company must be reachable by a client.

Re: Sweden’s proposed six-hour workday

#25

Post by symmetricsaurus »

justnotsure wrote: post #17

The innovative US economy will make it all irrelevant anyway by introducing more and more work from home jobs. Work from home is almost common in the US and basically non-existent in Europe. I wouldn't trade Swedish 6-hour workday with my American-based 8-hour while working from my coach at home. Somehow socialists are always one step behind Mother Nature, i.e. free markets.

"Work from home is almost common in the US and basically non-existent in Europe."

It is not non-existent in Sweden.

"Somehow socialists are always one step behind Mother Nature, i.e. free markets."

The free market has nothing to do with "Mother Nature" (animals and plants don't trade at all). Sweden has a free market economy, much like the US. Not exactly sure what is meant by socialists here. Anyone who advocates shorter working hours?

Re: Sweden’s proposed six-hour workday

#26

Post by mcv »

I love seeing Netherland at the bottom of lists like this: http://cf.datawrapper.de/mv47r/3/

I too work 4 days a week, and wouldn't have it any other way. I have had to reject at least one very interesting job offer for it, though. Even when employers know full well that a 4 day work week makes sense, some of them still have trouble accepting it. It makes for weird conversations where they totally agree with me, and still cannot do it.

Re: Sweden’s proposed six-hour workday

#27

Post by bartkappenburg »

easytiger wrote: post #23
bartkappenburg wrote: post #22

I'm Dutch and I work 4 days a week. My productivity in my startup is the same. This is what researchers say about our average number of hours per week: For example, Dutch workers are on par with American workers in terms of productivity per hour. They pay higher taxes and earn less than Americans. But on average, they work roughly 11 weeks less than their American counterparts each year, have access to government-fun…

For the day off does the entire company not work or do different people take different days off. My reasoning is because if you are working supporting a 24x5 or 24x7 platform then you need full time cover.

Different people take different days off to ensure continuity.

I also found out that during the off day I'm processing the stuff that has happened on the job and this helps me in my focus and deciding what the next steps are. Considering this, my productivity and effectivity both went up.

Re: Sweden’s proposed six-hour workday

#28

Post by mcv »

easytiger wrote: post #23
bartkappenburg wrote: post #22

I'm Dutch and I work 4 days a week. My productivity in my startup is the same. This is what researchers say about our average number of hours per week: For example, Dutch workers are on par with American workers in terms of productivity per hour. They pay higher taxes and earn less than Americans. But on average, they work roughly 11 weeks less than their American counterparts each year, have access to government-fun…

For the day off does the entire company not work or do different people take different days off. My reasoning is because if you are working supporting a 24x5 or 24x7 platform then you need full time cover.

Friday is by far the most popular day to take off. Many offices are nearly empty on Friday. I'm currently alternating weekly between Fridays and Wednesdays, with my wife taking the opposite day, because we both agree Wednesday's free afternoon would be a great time to do things with our son, but it's also a day with important stuff happening at work. Before that, I had Mondays off.

Jobs that need full time cover tend to have a schedule for their employees. And when it's 24x5 or 24x7, you're going to need a schedule anyway, because a regular 40 hour work week doesn't cover that either.

Re: Sweden’s proposed six-hour workday

#29

Post by symmetricsaurus »

Currently there is not much discussion about a general reduction of the work day to 6 hours in Sweden.

If anything politicians are pushing for more work (though not longer days). Lower sick pay, later retirement and conversion of part time jobs to full time have been implemented or proposed.

(Also, it is not Volvo Cars that is downsizing, it is Volvo Group).

Re: Sweden’s proposed six-hour workday

#30

Post by mcv »

bowlofpetunias wrote: post #4

And once again the Netherlands shows up on the bottom of that list, so I'll say it once more: we have a high participation of women in the work force, but most of those only work part-time, often in stereotypically "women's jobs" (receptionist, secretary, kindergarten). Makes the stats look much more progressive than reality, even though 32/36 hour work weeks are common.

Even so, just the reactions from Dutch people here on HN show that a lot of them are working 4 days a week. I do it too. My brother does it. Many of my neighbours do it. A 4 day work week is particularly popular with parents.
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