Why Every Weekend Should Be A 3 Day Weekend, According To Science

    Five days a week or 40 hours is the standard for full-time employment. Working 50 to 70 hours isn’t unheard of though. Are the extra hours worth it? The actual relationship between working hours and productivity might surprise you.

    SHARE THIS INFOGRAPHIC ON YOUR SITE WITH THE FOLLOWING CODE:

    <p><a href='http://www.investmentzen.com/news/why-every-weekend-should-be-a-3-day-weekend-according-to-science/'><img src='http://cdn.investmentzen.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/why-every-weekend-should-be-a-3-day-weekend_infographic.png' alt='Why Every Weekend Should Be A 3 Day Weekend' width='800px' border='0' /></a></p>
    <p>Via: <a href="http://www.investmentzen.com/news/why-every-weekend-should-be-a-3-day-weekend-according-to-science/">InvestmentZen.com</a></p>

     

    Why You Need a 3-Day Weekend, According to Science

    Five days a week or 40 hours is the standard for full-time employment. Working 50 to 70 hours isn’t unheard of though. Are the extra hours worth it?
    The studies and real-life examples showing the relationship between working hours and productivity might surprise you.

    We’re Over Worked, and it’s Dangerous to Our Health

    Too much work causes:

    • 33% increased risk of stroke
    • 13% increase in heart problems
    • 112% increased risk in acquiring Type 2 Diabetes
    • 2X double the chances of suffering from depression and anxiety problems

    And for what?

    The extra time you spend in the office isn’t always productive.

    Multiple experiments show than people can only do up to five hours of concentrated, meaningful work. The rest of the time is just wasted on:

    • Emails: The average employee checks his inbox 36 times an hour. This includes internal communication and outgoing emails that an average employee check hourly a day.
    • Meetings: Employees waste 31 hours in unproductive meetings a month—time better spent elsewhere because attendees usually:
      • 39% sleep
      • 47% complained
      • 91% daydreamed

    Believe it or Not, Adding a Day Off is Good for Companies

    Contrary to popular belief, shortening the workweek isn’t just for employees.

    It can benefit companies in many ways:

    Reduced Energy Cost
    The State of Utah saved $1.8 million in energy costs after 10 months of implementing a 3-day weekend for their state employees.

    Minimize Absenteeism
    They also minimized time off requests by 9%

    Increased Productivity
    Sahlgrenska University Hospital’s orthopedic unit did 20% more operations after implementing a shorter workweek. Patients also noticed that their doctors and medical staff came to work happier.

    Recruit and Retain Talent
    SF based startup iBeat used 3-day weekends as a perk to recruit ex Googler Brian Boarini and other top talent from major Silicon Valley companies.

    Do You Want to Suggest a 3-Day Weekend to Your Boss?

    Show how other companies are thriving, despite the extra day off.

    Treehouse
    Treehouse employees are happier and more productive since their CEO implemented a 32-hour workweek in 2006. The $3 million yearly revenue and $4.75 million funding they raised after enjoying their new schedule is a sweet bonus.

    KFC Japan
    KFC Japan rolled out a 3-day off initiative to fight labor shortage and retain more employees, especially stay at home moms. They quickly convinced more than 20 moms to return to work after implementing the program.

    Basecamp (37Signals)
    CEO Jason Fried said, “Better work gets done in four days than in five.” Basecamp employees are more focused and creative because of the compressed workweek.

    3-day weekends are a growing trend. It’s not just these three companies.

    Several businesses in Japan, US, UK, France, and Sweden are enjoying the benefits of a longer weekend.

    Spread the Word

    Share this infographic to your friends, co-workers, and even your boss. It’s time we end the misconception about long work hours and productivity. Besides, we could all use an extra day off.

    2 Comments

      Leave a Reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *