Struggling with Long Commutes and Work-Life Balance: Can We Shift to a 5-Day Workweek?

Seeking Advice on Work Schedule Adjustment

I am working as Head – HR with an auto ancillary company. This unit is situated a little far off from the city, and due to traffic congestion and poor road conditions, one-way travel time is almost 1.5 hours. We work six days a week, and as a gesture of goodwill from Management, our working hours have been fixed from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with a ½ hour lunch break in between. All staff members reside in the main city, and to ferry the employees, the company has hired an air-conditioned bus. However, employees are finding it difficult to maintain work-life balance and have approached me for a solution.

Considering a Change in Work Schedule

I want to introduce a five-day workweek or a five and a half-day workweek (Saturday - half day). My senior colleagues are not in favor of this as they feel it is against the provisions of the Factories Act.

I request all HR colleagues to provide me with a solution or inform me of the names of manufacturing companies that might be following eight and a half hours of work a day while still having a five-day or five and a half-day workweek.

Please help if you have the appropriate solution.

Regards,

As per the Factories Act, the working hours shall be 48 hours per week. It is incumbent upon you to ensure that the total working hours in a week do not exceed 48 hours. Based on your company's convenience, you may choose to follow either a 5-day week or a 5 and 1/2-day week.

Thank you.

First of all, I would like to tell you that it is not against the provisions of the Factories Act. Of course, in factories, a 5-hour working standard may not be feasible, but you may consider recommending it for non-technical staff. Finally, it is entirely a management decision. Factories typically operate on a 6-day working standard.

Thank you.

You can have 9 hours a day (including a half-hour interval) on five days and a half-day of work on Saturday.

Regards,
Varghese Mathew
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Please note that the Factory Act provides the upper limits only, i.e., a maximum of 48 working hours and a maximum of 9 hours a day. You can work for fewer hours if your management decides.

Working 5 days or 5.5 days a week is purely at the discretion of management. However, you need to give advance notice of any changes to the concerned employees.

Regards,

It is very obvious for your position to worry about deciding the timings, as well as keeping up with statutory compliance. I have worked with a factory where there was a 5 and a half-day working schedule, which suits the workers quite well. It also helps in reducing absenteeism among employees. However, I am afraid I can't disclose the name of the company where I worked. But, I can assure you that you won't face any problems as long as you comply with statutory laws.

5 and a Half-Day Working Pattern:

Monday to Friday - 8 and 1/2 hours
Saturday - 5 and 1/2 hours
Total weekly working hours - 48

I did not suggest a 5-day working pattern because it leads to absenteeism on Mondays and Fridays, a common pattern observed. In any case, the final decision will be made by the top management.

Thank you.

If you want a 6-day workweek, you can organize it as follows:

All 6 days: 7 and 1/2 hours (including a 1/2-hour lunch break). Total working hours: 45.

⚠️ Warning: The effect on productivity also needs to be considered when reducing the work hours.

However, this arrangement may keep the workers and employees happy as their work timings are reduced, allowing them to reach their homes earlier. But I am afraid the top management might not be willing to take such a significant risk. Discuss this with the company's HR in and around the city where your factory is located.

Hope this helps.

The employees' demand for work-life balance is genuine and also in the interest of your company as it will lead to better productivity. I agree that the Factories Act sets the upper limit, and at the same time, your management would not like to reduce working hours. A little bit of thinking outside the box will help you find a solution. Put on your creative hat. One of the solutions would be to start early and end early. How about starting at 07:30 hours and ending at 15:30 hours and incorporating some fun activities inside the factory for de-stressing?

Best of luck,
Jatinder Vijh

Dear Rakesh,

It is very important for your position to consider deciding the timings and keeping up with statutory compliance. I have experience working at a factory where a 5 and a half-day working week was implemented, which suited the workers well and helped reduce absenteeism among employees. Unfortunately, I am unable to disclose the name of the company where I worked. However, I can assure you that you will not encounter any issues as long as you adhere to statutory laws.

The 5 and a Half-Day Working Pattern

- Monday to Friday: 8 and a half hours
- Saturday: 5 and a half hours
Total weekly working hours: 48

I did not recommend a 5-day working pattern due to observed absenteeism on Mondays and Fridays, which is quite common. Ultimately, the top management will make the final decision on this matter.

Regards,
Siddesh

I have gone through various comments. Please note, while rescheduling the working hours, kindly ensure that the timing in one session (either prior or after lunch) should not exceed 5 hours. This is as per the provisions in the Factory Act. Hence, please note this while rescheduling.

Thanks,
Gopu

There are no issues with the Factory Act as far as I know. The Factory Act specifies a maximum of 48 hours of work per week to prevent employee exploitation. Having less than 48 hours of work per week has nothing to do with the Factory Act; it is solely up to the top management to decide. You just have to be presentable and provide support for your plan.

Thank you and regards,

As per our company policy, you can also try this if all employees agree. Working hours are 9 hours, with a 1-hour lunch break and a 15-minute tea break in the afternoon. Every first and third Saturday of the month is a holiday, and the second and fourth Saturdays are half days. This is possible if all employees and management agree.