September 23, 2005 2:32 PM

Longer work hours=higher productivity? Not necessarily so
Posted by at 2:32 PM

It's one of those epidemics that doesn't get better with time: the 50 to 60 hour work week that you hear people complaining about just about everywhere you turn. In this article, Nick ("Ask the Headhunter") Corcodilos profiles a software engineer who finally managed to cut back on his work hours without jeopardizing his career. In fact, his work schedule actually benefits his company.

"I'd like to make a comment about the common assumption that extra hours worked equals extra productivity. It's true only up to a point, then it's totally false. In a short burst of overtime (days to a week or two), it is likely that most workers will get more done than if they had worked only 40 hours. In a long bout of overtime (months), as fatigue mounts, carelessness increases while concentration and creativity decrease. Taken to extremes this can lead to an increase in illness and increased likelihood of family problems such as divorce. None of this is good for productivity over the long run."