Do Long Working Hours Really Benefit Companies or Just Fuel Stress and Office Politics?

Long working hours are beneficial to the organization or do they create stress, more politics, etc.?

I am in a company where 10 hours is the minimum working hour for all officers in a day. I have seen people gossiping in the last hour or two and waiting for the completion of the 10 hours.

From my observation, most of the topics are related to backbiting towards others, resulting in an unhealthy environment in the organization.

Please provide me with the best solution for that.

Regards,
KK

Staying in the office when it is needed is okay. But if this is a practice, then it is not healthy.

Regards,
Pratap

According to me, reduce the work hours and create a busy atmosphere by having the project manager assign work that would prevent employees from having time to gossip, etc.

Thanks for your valuable suggestion.

As an HR professional, how can I present my proposal effectively to higher authorities to convince them and get their support for reducing the working hours? I am looking for a strategic approach with examples or a PowerPoint presentation to support my case.

Please feel free to share your views on this subject.

Why compulsory 10 hours? If you have work and exigencies of business, then working beyond normal working hours is okay. But just to spend the fixed hours without sufficient work is bound to lead to routine gossiping within the office premises, paving the way for character assassination. This is out and out a bad thing and spoils professional ethics. This is also a bad HR policy.

Hi,

As per the Factories Act and the Shops and Establishment Act, employees must work their regular duties for not more than 9 hours with a one-hour break in between. Additionally, they should not work more than 48 hours in a week, with at least one day of rest.

Your employer is acting illegally by making employees work for 10 hours in a day. You can refer to the above Acts to help your employer understand that if an employee works for more than 9 hours continuously, they are entitled to overtime payment for the extra hours worked, at double the regular wages.

Furthermore, as human beings, our efficiency decreases with each successive hour of work, leading to nearly negligible outcomes at the end of the workday. Therefore, it is important to question the necessity of overtime work. What does the employer gain by making employees work more than 9 hours a day? It often seems to be more about asserting authority than achieving meaningful results.

Mohan Rao
Manager HR

The Illusion of Longer Working Hours

A person who works for longer hours is not necessarily an efficient worker. Nowadays, it has become fashionable to work for extended hours in a private organization to earn the boss's appreciation. Private organizations are led by affluent individuals who travel in luxurious cars and do not encounter any commuting difficulties. They view their office as a second home and show little regard for employees' family lives. In cities like Mumbai, people spend over 2 hours commuting via local transport, such as buses and overcrowded trains. Owners of private organizations never utilize local transport for commuting, making it evident that they may not comprehend the daily struggles faced by employees.

If employees are compelled to work longer hours, they will naturally become frustrated, leading to a decline in productivity. Home is not merely a place to have dinner and sleep; it also encompasses personal and private life, including family responsibilities, aspects that the owners of such organizations may overlook as they prioritize money above all else. By valuing every minute of the 8 or 8.5-hour workday and maintaining focus, work can be completed on time. Work extending beyond regular hours should be rare; when faced with a heavier workload, such as five people managing the tasks of ten, recruiting additional staff is advisable. Although this incurs added costs, such as salary expenses, the increased efficiency among employees will benefit the company in the long term, potentially offsetting the costs through higher productivity.

Government vs. Private Sector Work Dynamics

Government office employees are often criticized as lazy, yet not all fit this stereotype. It is crucial to recognize that the workload they handle exceeds that of many private offices, distributed among a larger workforce, as government employee numbers typically surpass those in the private sector. Consequently, they adhere to specified working hours, leave the office on time, and receive overtime compensation for exceeding these hours. Their working conditions are regulated by the government, with unions addressing their concerns.

Efficient Work Practices in Private Organizations

In certain private organizations (though not all), employees waste time chatting with colleagues or browsing social networking sites, consuming over an hour. Consequently, they often find themselves staying late to complete unfinished tasks, with some companies requiring permission from superiors to leave on time. By diligently working, following up consistently, and reporting progress, tasks can be completed promptly. It is vital for bosses to understand that an efficient worker who delivers quick results is far more valuable than one who extends work hours unnecessarily. This distinction often prompts efficient individuals to leave such companies, where they may feel overworked despite completing tasks on schedule. What good is earning money if it detracts from spending time with family? Working to keep loved ones happy loses its purpose when late hours at work prevent quality time together.

Regards

In my above discussion, I am not criticizing all private companies, but it is true that the majority of them do exploit employees by making them work longer hours and pay peanuts in comparison. We are HR professionals, "H" for Human. We have to understand that humans run companies, not machines, and money alone.

Employee Engagement vs. Superficial Activities

Merely conducting parties, award ceremonies, and picnics will not make employees happy. It's like bashing a person for days on end and then, one fine day, serving them chicken biryani so that they forget your cruelty. Guys, please understand the hidden message.