Decades ago, some economists predicted that the 21st century would be an era when people would no longer need to work 40 hours a week, and that people would actually work so little that they would not know how to fill all of their free time.
According to , a Connecticut-based publication, experts once predicted that Americans would eventually only work 14 or 15 hours per week. For most, however, that day never arrived, and many work 40 hours a week or even more.
Some countries have tried shorter work weeks with varying amounts of success. In the Netherlands, a four-day work week is common, and in France, 35-hour work weeks were attempted for a few years. German workers put almost 10 fewer weeks of work than Americans, yet their economy is still very competitive.
For Americans, a shorter work week would mean more time with family, save on child care costs and possibly even healthier employees. A shorter work week could actually create more jobs, but it would also mean companies would have to pay and insure more people. Moreover, someone has to be responsible for tracking the flow of part-time workers and calculating their vacation and sick leave.
A company that decides to run with this strategy would need a reliable way to manage and track all these schedule and benefit changes. The Human Resources department would need a reliable software system, like Microsoft Dynamics GP.
now includes a Human Resources module that supports unlimited employees, includes a PTO manager to handle vacation and sick-day policies automatically and reduce overhead costs by cutting paperwork and preparation time for payroll record keeping. ()
And we recommend for more products and services to .
If you are a Connecticut company that wants to create shorter work weeks – we applaud you! And we would be happy to tell you more about how Microsoft Dynamics GP Human Resources can help. Contact [email protected] or 860-485-0910 x4.
By Anya Ciecierski, CAL Business Solutions,
