There is a connection between thinking and working. You need to work in order to think about your work and then have the opportunity to think about topics outside of work. For thinking, you must have enough time to think. If you work too much, you don’t have the chance to think about anything. Instinctive behavior and a robotic lifestyle leave no room for reflection. That’s why the cause-and-effect relationship between work and people must be clearly defined: it is not people who should serve work but work that should serve people.
The number of hours or days people work weekly in our country raises important questions. In Azerbaijan, the most hardworking people are employed in public administration, defense, and social security sectors, working an average of 155 hours per month. Those working the least are in the education sector, where the monthly average is 140 hours. From January to November of last year, the average monthly working hours per employee in Azerbaijan stood at 148 hours.
This context prompts reflection on the role working hours play in people’s personal lives. Drawing on experiences from other countries makes for a more logical analysis.
Two years ago, Finland’s new female prime minister stated in her inaugural speech that transitioning to a 4-day workweek was more important than increasing incomes. She argued that the disintegration of family institutions, rising suicide rates, and similar challenges compelled her government to consider a 4-day workweek. One reason for this transition is the weakening of family bonds and the rise of antisocial lifestyles due to excessive time spent at work.
The solution to many of these issues lies in enabling people to spend more time with their loved ones.
Returning to Azerbaijan, it’s a reality that in countries like ours, people dedicate more time to work to improve their living standards, increase their incomes, and meet their needs. As a result, many people work 40–45 hours per week. Companies and individuals resist reducing working hours, fearing it will lower productivity and income. However, numerous studies reveal the opposite.
Advantages of a 4-Day Workweek
Research on reduced weekly working hours has yielded significant results. In the United States (Washington), an interesting project was implemented in San Juan County in 2023 as a one-year pilot program. The results were overwhelmingly positive, leading to the continuation of the 32-hour workweek system. It was found that employees in this system worked more attentively, were more motivated, and displayed higher productivity.
Employees were able to accomplish more in a shorter time and began managing their time more effectively. It was proven that shorter working hours do not disrupt work. On the contrary, work was completed more efficiently, benefiting both employees and employers in the long run.
One striking finding was that employees tended to stay longer in their jobs, ensuring stability. This also positively impacted their personal lives and mental health, improving the quality of life for employees, their families, and their social circles.
Social innovations like the 4-day workweek have paved the way for new opportunities. Another study was conducted at Microsoft’s Japan branch in 2019. Reducing employees’ working hours did not negatively impact production or sales. Instead, sales improved by 40% compared to the previous year. The transition to new working hours also led employees to take 25% fewer leave days. The company’s electricity consumption decreased by 23%, and paper usage dropped by 58%.
Choosing Between Thinking and Working
The 4-day workweek has also been shown to boost energy levels and alleviate frustration and depression. According to a study by Cambridge University, burnout rates among employees working a 4-day week decreased by 71%.
So, what’s better: working longer hours to the point of exhaustion or working less while being more productive and performing at a higher level?
It’s a thought-provoking question, isn’t it?
Thinking is not always about finding answers to all questions. Sometimes, it’s about creating questions. Sometimes, it’s about giving people the chance to reflect. In that case, perhaps it’s better to choose working less and thinking deeply rather than working too much and thinking shallowly.
Working less is a choice, and so is thinking… The choice is yours...
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