The 15-Hour Work Week Buzz

 

Scandinavian countries might have some dreary, endless winters, but they’re on their way to becoming very attractive locations to work in. Countries like Norway may be soon implementing the 15-hour work week, so we might want to start packing.

What is the 15-hour work week?

The 15-hour work week pretty much explains itself, it involves 15 working hours rather than Australia’s average 40 hours per week. Here’s the run down of why this is making offices worldwide buzz.

Economist Keynes thought that by 2030 we’d all be working 15 hours a week. Sure doesn’t look like that’s going to happen in Australia anytime soon, but some European countries seem to be on their way.

Why 15 hours?

The number 15 was drawn from economic graphs about growth and development. In the early 1900s, economists thought we would have work all figured out and be able to manage our tasks in under half the time by now.

Instead, since those predictions were made the amount of work expected of people has increased, so although we are more productive, we have bigger to-do lists to get through too.

What’re the benefits of working fewer hours?

1. We’d be physically healthier. Not just from sitting less, but from having more time and energy to exercise and be on our feet. By the time most people commute back home they are so exhausted the concept of heading out for a run isn’t feasible. Fewer working hours would mean we have more energy, and less excuses.

2. We’d have better mental health. The exercising would help on its own, but we’d also be far more satisfied with our jobs. No more being burnt out by the afternoon, staring at our computer screens for hours after we’ve done the day’s tasks. We’d have more time with our loved ones, our partners, kids and friends. We’d have more time for ourselves.

3. More people could work. Economists generally agree that reducing work hours lowers unemployment, as two people could work the job one person previously worked. But flexible hours also level out the playing field, meaning people like single parents who might not be able to work traditional full-time hours have the opportunity to work around their individual needs.

4. All work is recognized. By having more time for housework, volunteer work in the community, caring for the elderly and our relatives, these activities can see some much-deserved spotlight. Even though they’re vital activities that keep society running, these types of work have never been recognized by economists. The 15 hour work week would be the first step to changing that.

What do you think? Do you think Australia should implement a 15-hour work week? Or, do you actually think everything would go so much slower, that it would grind to a halt and fall apart? Maybe you're somewhere in the middle, looking for a few more hours a week to spend with your family and friends, knowing you worked a hard, productive week, even if it wasn't 40 hours long.

Let us know in the comments below.

 

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