Sweden: shorter workdays, happier and more productive staff?
- 8 years ago
The effectiveness of the traditional eight-hour workday has long been questioned.
In Sweden, some have opted to reduce daily hours to six – and supporters claim its boosted productivity and motivation.
But at what cost? insiders investigates whether a shorter workday can actually bring big gains for employees and employers.
The happy caregiver
Arturo Perez always arrives at work with a smile. He has been a caregiver at the Svartedalens nursing home, near Gothenburg in Sweden, for more than 20 years now.
His specialty: helping people suffering from Alzheimer’s – a task that has long been challenging.
His life changed last year, when he was selected to be part of a working time reorganisation experiment.
“I’m not as stressed out as I was before. I’ve met new colleagues. We help each other better plan our work, and we work with more joy,” he told insiders.
“I’m also in charge of young children, as a single father. Now I no longer have to pressure them in the morning, to go to school. Everything is much more relaxed.
“I think I’ve become a better dad, as well as being a better caregiver.”
The working hours of the home’s 82 caregivers were shortened from eight to six hours, for the same salary.
It is part of a programme mentored by the municipality of Gothenburg.
Employees are said to have gained a lot in terms of energy and efficiency – and are more available to the residents.
“The atmosphere is more relaxed. We have many people here who suffer from dementia. Before, when there was too much stress around, it made them very nervous.. Now they are clearly more peaceful,” explained Monica Axhede, Director of the Svartedalens Nursing Home.
“In addition we hired more staff, we created jobs. And we have a lot less sick leave.”
A political hot potato
Euronews’ Valerie Gauriat reported: “Gothenburg is Sweden’s second largest city. It is also one of those that shows the highest rates of sick absenteeism and burnout at work. The six-hour day is one of the ways to try to address that. It’s also a very political issue here.”
Launched as an initiative of the former left-wing majority in the municipality of Gothenburg, the experiment at the Svartedalens nursing home is due to end this winter.
Deputy mayor Maria Ryden, leader of the new right-wing majority at the City Council, is strongly against any extension or generalisation of the programme.
“We are responsible for 53,000 employees in Göteborg. So if we should let all these 53,000 employees work 6 hours and get paid for 8 hours…you do the maths!” she said.
“We have a huge challenge in the future to recruit more personnel. So if we just pay personnel for not working, there won’t be any money to recruit new personnel. We need more hands, we need more people to go to work, and we even need to work longer!”
The experience, when launched, represented a 20 percent increase in costs for the municipality.
Daniel Bernmar, deputy mayor and leader of the Left Party at the
In Sweden, some have opted to reduce daily hours to six – and supporters claim its boosted productivity and motivation.
But at what cost? insiders investigates whether a shorter workday can actually bring big gains for employees and employers.
The happy caregiver
Arturo Perez always arrives at work with a smile. He has been a caregiver at the Svartedalens nursing home, near Gothenburg in Sweden, for more than 20 years now.
His specialty: helping people suffering from Alzheimer’s – a task that has long been challenging.
His life changed last year, when he was selected to be part of a working time reorganisation experiment.
“I’m not as stressed out as I was before. I’ve met new colleagues. We help each other better plan our work, and we work with more joy,” he told insiders.
“I’m also in charge of young children, as a single father. Now I no longer have to pressure them in the morning, to go to school. Everything is much more relaxed.
“I think I’ve become a better dad, as well as being a better caregiver.”
The working hours of the home’s 82 caregivers were shortened from eight to six hours, for the same salary.
It is part of a programme mentored by the municipality of Gothenburg.
Employees are said to have gained a lot in terms of energy and efficiency – and are more available to the residents.
“The atmosphere is more relaxed. We have many people here who suffer from dementia. Before, when there was too much stress around, it made them very nervous.. Now they are clearly more peaceful,” explained Monica Axhede, Director of the Svartedalens Nursing Home.
“In addition we hired more staff, we created jobs. And we have a lot less sick leave.”
A political hot potato
Euronews’ Valerie Gauriat reported: “Gothenburg is Sweden’s second largest city. It is also one of those that shows the highest rates of sick absenteeism and burnout at work. The six-hour day is one of the ways to try to address that. It’s also a very political issue here.”
Launched as an initiative of the former left-wing majority in the municipality of Gothenburg, the experiment at the Svartedalens nursing home is due to end this winter.
Deputy mayor Maria Ryden, leader of the new right-wing majority at the City Council, is strongly against any extension or generalisation of the programme.
“We are responsible for 53,000 employees in Göteborg. So if we should let all these 53,000 employees work 6 hours and get paid for 8 hours…you do the maths!” she said.
“We have a huge challenge in the future to recruit more personnel. So if we just pay personnel for not working, there won’t be any money to recruit new personnel. We need more hands, we need more people to go to work, and we even need to work longer!”
The experience, when launched, represented a 20 percent increase in costs for the municipality.
Daniel Bernmar, deputy mayor and leader of the Left Party at the