Sweden is now moving to a six-hour working day in a bid to increase productivity and make people happierSweden is now moving to a six-hour working day in a bid to increase productivity and make people happier.
Employers including doctors and nurses in some hospitals across Sweden have already made the change to the new working hours. According to the Science Alert website, the aim was to get more done in a shorter amount of time and ensure people had the energy to enjoy their private lives.
In an earlier experiment, Toyota centres in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city, switched to a 6-hour day and reported happier staff, a lower turnover rate, and an increase in profits in that time.
Filimundus, a software developer in Sweden’s capital city Stockholm, introduced the six-hour day last year.
Linus Feldt, Filimundus CEO told Fast Company:
“The eight-hour work day is not as effective as one would think,” .
“To stay focused on a specific work task for eight hours is a huge challenge. In order to cope, we mix in things and pauses to make the work day more endurable. At the same time, we are having it hard to manage our private life outside of work.”
Mr Feldt has said staff members are not allowed on social media, meetings are kept to a minimum, and that other distractions during the day are eliminated – but the aim is that staff will be more motivated to work more intensely while in the office.
He said the new work day would ensure people have enough energy to pursue their private lives when they leave work – something which can be difficult with eight-hour days.
“My impression now is that it is easier to focus more intensely on the work that needs to be done and you have the stamina to do it and still have the energy left when leaving the office,” Mr Feldt added.
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