Human Resources Timer

I remember myself watching TV in 1990 - thirty-five years ago. It was a device with a massive lens and a black-and-white image. A few years later, there was a large Japanese color screen with remote-control function. It still works – I checked. Nowadays, screens are of a thickness of a paper sheet.

I remember starting my first job back in 2008 - fifteen years ago. The first thing I was told in the office was the office hours policy — 8TO5. It was mostly a relaxed atmosphere with occasional deadlines and urgent meetings happening once a fortnight. Fifteen years later, in 2023, I was in the Alps in a high-tech office. Yet, the office hours policy is still 8TO5.

First story shows incredible progress in producing technologies, second one, in contrast, the stagnation in human resources field. One may say, however, that there are companies with flexible hours. Nevertheless, it’s still close to 40 hours a week.

Who is to be blamed for this failure? This happens when WE sign the contracts. It is well understood by many that working hours have nothing to do with effectiveness. However, employers will, of course, require us to work more, as it is the only way to control people, although intentionally sacrificing effectiveness.

Thus, because of people who run for social benefits, pensions, holidays, we will always work around the 40-hour policy, never achieving other metrics of work we do. We all can contribute to our fields of knowledge and optimize office life to be more sustainable. Now, however, the timer is in the hands of smart entrepreneurs and governments who manage to control us.