Most Working Hours

'Listen to your body': Ex-WHO scientist Swaminathan on long workweeks

People should listen to their bodies and recognise when they need rest as prolonged overwork can lead to burnout and reduced efficiency, former WHO chief scientist and health ministry advisor Soumya Swaminathan has said. While intense work for short periods is possible, as seen during COVID-19, it is not sustainable in the long run, she told PTI in an interview. Swaminathan stressed that productivity depends more on work quality than hours spent. Asked about the impact of long working hours on human health, the former director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) told PTI: "I know a lot of people who work very hard. So, I think it is an individual thing and your body tells you when you are tired, so then you also have to listen to your body. You can really work hard, let's say for a few months. During COVID, we all did that, right? But could we have continued that for years together? I am not sure." "For those two-three years, we did it. We did not sleep much. W

Capgemini India CEO backs 47.5-hour work week, opposes weekend e-mails

Joining the debate on working hours, IT services company Capgemini India's chief executive Ashwin Yardi on Tuesday advocated 47.5 hours work per week, and was against sending e-mails to employees on weekends. He was speaking at Nasscom Technology and Leadership Forum (NTLF) here. "Forty seven and half hours. We have about nine hours a day and five days a week," Yardi said replying to a question on the ideal time to be put in by an employee per week. "My guiding principle for the last four years is don't send an e-mail on a weekend even if it is an escalation unless you know you can solve it on a weekend," he added. Acknowledging that sometimes he does work on weekends, Yardi said he desists from sending e-mails to employees, as there is no point just to give "grief" to an employee knowing well that the work cannot be done on a weekend. It can be noted that IT industry leader and Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy has been pitching for a 70-hour work week, while EPC major Lars

70, 90, 120 and counting: The evolving debate on ideal work hours

Leading voices from the world of business have expressed their opinions on how many hours people should work, but the debate over the work week remains complicated

In Tokyo, government employees to work only 4 days a week: Here's why

The Tokyo Metropolitan government said that under this plan, government employees will have the option to take three days off per week

Work-life paradise: This country has the shortest work week at 24.7 hours

While some countries enjoy short work weeks, India grapples with long hours and work-life balance struggles

50% of employees in India work at least 49 hours per week, shows data

The recent death of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old chartered accountant (CA) at Ernst & Young, has brought attention to work-related stress among the youth

Two women worked half days for nearly a decade without getting caught

Author Chelsea M Cameron shared a true incident of how two women at her local branch worked half days for nearly 10 years before getting noticed

Canada to limit off-campus work hours to 24 weekly from September

'Students who come to Canada must be here to study,' says country in new policy

India to lose 5.8% of daily working hours amid heat stress in 2030: UNESCAP

The report also mentions that climate change will contribute to the spread of disease, leading to lower government revenues and higher spending requirements

What's Tata AIG General Insurance MD & CEO Neelesh Garg's wellness mantra

Garg avoids excessive screen time and turns to outdoor activities

Is Narayana Murthy right?

The founder of Infosys' comment about working 70-hour weeks says productivity should be at the heart of a national debate

70-hour workweek: Here's why Murthy's suggestion won't help India grow

The insight that the more you work, the less you produce in your extra hours on the job has a long history

Back to office isn't working well for women, attrition rates show

Maximum attrition seen in women in the 30-40 age group, experts say

Industry fumes as Tamil Nadu hold back bill increasing working hours

Trade unions support move, say legislation is against 'basic rights of workers'

To woo foreign investors, Tamil Nadu too clears bill allowing 12-hour work

Second state after Karnataka to take the decision; provision for 4-day work weeks

Flexible working hours in TN factories bill passed amid protest by parties

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday passed the Factories (Amendment) Act 2023 providing flexible working hours for employees in factories across the State, amidst protests and claims by several parties that the Act would stretch the mandatory working hours to 12 hours from the present 8 hours duty. Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu, however, assured that the total working hours in a week would remain unchanged for the workers who would now have the option to work for four days in a week and avail three days leave. "This would immensely benefit women workers," he claimed. "The remaining three days would be paid leave and the existing rules on leaves, overtime, salaries, etc., would remain unchanged," Labour Welfare Minister C V Ganesan said. Action would be taken against factories, which coerced their employees to work against their wishes, he clarified. The Ministers' clarification on the TN Factories Act, 2023, follows protests and a walkout by the Left parties, the Congress and

A 4-day workweek may find global acceptance but face roadblocks in India

Some Indian employees would prefer a 4-day workweek, but not everyone buys the idea, says a recent study

Zepp Health to launch Amazfit Band 7 fitness wearable on Nov 8: Know more

The Amazfit Band 7 will be available on Amazon and Amazfit official website at a discounted price of Rs 2,999 on November 8

Six-day work weeks won't work anymore for new talent, says report

According to a report, companies with 6-day work weeks have to settle for leftover talent

The 150-year trend that could help

Commercialisation of leisure could be the solution to many economic problems