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We have all heard the famous saying -Time is money. But is it actually true? Well, the productivity vs. work hours debate has recently reached new heights Today, time is a lot more valuable than ever, and that is why employees are questioning the number of work hours that are actually needed to get the job done.

Well, the COVID-19 pandemic completely changed the way we work. Today, both employees and employers are trying to figure out how to evolve workplace culture post-pandemic. So, here we are going to look at how prolonged work hours do not always mean increased productivity snd better outcomes. We will also take a look at Ajay Srinivasan take in his blog on the debate- productivity vs. work hours.

Does putting more hours to work actually mean increased productivity?

A lot of managers assume that putting in more hours at work means greater output, assuming productivity stays the same or even increases. Well, in reality, this may not be true. There are studies that reveal that the opposite is true. A study conducted on some factory workers found that reducing their work hours from 55 to 40 hours per week increased their productivity by 14%. Well, there are a lot of other instances as well, which state that work hours alone aren't an accurate measure of what drives output. In fact, we all have a limited capacity for maintaining our productivity over long periods of time. 

After a certain point, our concentration decreases and so does creativity. This is when we start making mistakes. So, we can say that long hours are unsustainable over weeks and months. Also, with no time for friends, family, hobbies, and vacation, it can have a direct impact on our overall well-being. This is the reason why responsible and employee-friendly companies are encouraging employees to take breaks between work. 

According to Ajay Srinivasan’s News, “In many of the European countries, work hours are less than 40 hours per week, whereas in economies like the US, China, and India, work hours tend to be longer. More time worked, though, does not equate to greater productivity, as countries like France and Germany rank higher on productivity per hour worked. There is also the question of mental health and burnout with extended work hours.”

What actually leads to increased productivity at work?

Here are a few questions that Ajay Srinivasan has raised in his blog: Does maximising GDP require maximising hours worked? Can tech and AI drive labour productivity growth, which has been flagging? What is the optimal solution, keeping in mind the interests of employees, employers, and the economy? In an increasingly hybrid work world, how are traditional leave models evolving? To answer that, here we have listed some of the drivers of productivity in the workplace:

Energy levels: Have you ever noticed how you get more work done on some days than others? When you feel energetic, it is easy to get more work done. However, when you are tired or distracted, even simple tasks take a long time. So, make sure that you balance periods of intense focus with proper recovery time or you will burn out.

Tools and processes: With the right tools and processes in place, you can work smarter and not longer. By automating tasks that eat up your time, you can easily focus on tasks that actually need your attention. You can also make proper use of those hours that you are actually putting into work.

Goals and priorities: It is really difficult to work effectively without having well-defined goals and priorities. At the end, you end up bouncing between tasks. This makes you feel distracted. So, set goals for what you want to achieve on a particular day, a particular week, and a particular month. Then prioritise your work accordingly. Managing your time well is a key route to greater productivity and shorter hours at work.

Flexible work arrangement: Flexible work arrangements are helpful in boosting productivity. Allowing employees to work in a way that suits them will keep them productive and motivated. It will also allow them to hold accountability for the tasks that they do.

How to measure productivity?

So, now that you see that work hours aren't the actual metric for productivity, how exactly are you going to substantiate productivity? Well, here are some of the key metrics that can be used to measure productivity: 

Emphasise quality over quantity: Always measure work by the quality of output, not just

the volume. Completing 50% work is meaningless if it is filled with errors.

Provide quality standards and frameworks: To align on expectations, track both qualitative and quantitative metrics. This will give you a proper picture of what you have actually achieved.

Benchmark progress: Look at the key metrics over time to identify positive and negative areas. You can also compare yourself against past performance to have a detailed idea of your productivity.

Parting Thoughts: 

So, as you can see, the amount of hours you put into work doesn't actually equate to increased productivity. With that in mind, a lot of companies have already started restricting work hours. Also, with business leaders like Ajay Srinivasan highlighting the importance of taking holidays and breaks, it is expected that more companies are going to start prioritising employee well-being over increased work hours. This will not only allow the employees to give their best while at work but will also drive enhanced productivity at workplaces.