4 ms·

> concludes an extensive new Danish study. > A study of 4,500 public employees... at Danish schools, hospitals, nurseries, offices, etc. Public employees in D

by jkot 10y ago

> concludes an extensive new Danish study. > A study of 4,500 public employees... at Danish schools, hospitals, nurseries, offices, etc. Public employees in Denmark work 35 hours a week, with 8 weeks holiday for teachers and 5 weeks holiday for others. I really do not think this study applies to people who work 12 hours a day with no holidays. Also it was published in 2013

throwawayReply 10y ago
It's banal to say "this was 2013" as if such results age so quickly. It amazes me how on one hand "Peopleware" (1987) and "The mythical man-month" (1975) are held up as ground-breaking ideals here but a published academic study is dismissed because "it was published in 2013". As for "Well it's not transferable to 12 hours a day with no holidays", what you're describing isn't reality for most people in most countries. It is not even legal to work 12 hours a day for 5 days a week in any of Europe+. If you are doing 12 hour days and don't have holidays then you are a slave not a worker. + Except UK, but only if you have specifically opted out of the law, otherwise the 48 hour week maximum still applies.
- jkot 10y ago
  I think mods should add (2013) into title. 12 hours a day is not uncommon. Even in EU and public sector, for example doctors in some eastern countries have to work this way. Anyway, my point is: this study should not be miss represented.
jeremiep 10y ago
I'm pretty sure the results would be even more true for 12 hours workdays. I recently switched jobs and dropped from 40 hours to 35 hours a week and only feel much more productive from it. Working 70 hours week is a guaranteed way to have a mediocre productivity and quality of life. In the end you spend half your time fixing your own mistakes and waste the other half writing said mistakes. You're then much more vulnerable to anything listed in the article.

by jkot 10y ago

throwawayReply 10y ago

It's banal to say "this was 2013" as if such results age so quickly. It amazes me how on one hand "Peopleware" (1987) and "The mythical man-month" (1975) are held up as ground-breaking ideals here but a published academic study is dismissed because "it was published in 2013". As for "Well it's not transferable to 12 hours a day with no holidays", what you're describing isn't reality for most people in most countries. It is not even legal to work 12 hours a day for 5 days a week in any of Europe+. If you are doing 12 hour days and don't have holidays then you are a slave not a worker. + Except UK, but only if you have specifically opted out of the law, otherwise the 48 hour week maximum still applies.

jkot 10y ago
I think mods should add (2013) into title. 12 hours a day is not uncommon. Even in EU and public sector, for example doctors in some eastern countries have to work this way. Anyway, my point is: this study should not be miss represented.

jeremiep 10y ago

I'm pretty sure the results would be even more true for 12 hours workdays. I recently switched jobs and dropped from 40 hours to 35 hours a week and only feel much more productive from it. Working 70 hours week is a guaranteed way to have a mediocre productivity and quality of life. In the end you spend half your time fixing your own mistakes and waste the other half writing said mistakes. You're then much more vulnerable to anything listed in the article.