Ever feel like there are just not enough hours in the day?

Last month’s Rewards survey provided some interesting insights on the changing nature of Australia’s workforce, raising the question: do longer working hours really add value to business?

With more than two million Australians working longer than 50 hours each week, it is clear the traditional family model of one parent working full-time and the other staying home has been systematically eroded.

The majority of Rewards members believe that longer working hours can have a detrimental effect on personal life and relationships. Those who have been working long hours over an extended period said a break down in family communication was a major issue.

Experts on the topic are also quick to point out that while working hours are up, productivity is diminishing. As we take on more and more responsibilities in the work day, many of us are becoming less organised, we are not prioritising, often mistaking the urgent for the important.

The Australian workforce is in a state of flux. Employers in many industries are challenged by acute skill shortages and an aging population, which is forcing them to restructure their workforces to meet customer needs in a highly competitive market.

Survey respondents also identified health issues including increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, from a lack of exercise and poor diet, as well as mental health issues driven by stress.

It would be naïve to think personal stress does not carry back into the workplace.

As fatigue sets in, tired employees are prone to inaccuracy in their work, resulting in poor quality and costly errors. Fatigue also gives rise to occupational health and safety issues, potentially causing time lost to injury and in the worse case, the loss of life and assets.

Longer working hours are also counter productive to innovation and creativity. Employees do not have time to seek education and personal development opportunities, or if they do, are frequently too tired to gain real value from the experience.

This creates a strong case for examining current work patterns and developing a sustainable solution that does not rely on employees working longer and longer.

Most of our survey participants agree that achieving balance between work and life will be different for each individual, influenced by their stage in life, cultural background and financial situation.

This being the case, flexible work place practices such part time employment and the provision of childcare are all means of creating a safe, productive and most importantly, profitable workforce.