Adults of working age in Europe spend an average of 40 hours a week at work. But is it a pleasure or a chore?
“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” (Theodore Roosevelt)
Adults of working age in Europe spend an average of 40 hours a week at work.
In an ideal world, this would be a pleasure.
But the reality is it is often a chore-
Euronews Insiders fact check
80% of people are dissatisfied with their job
The average person spends 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime
Divorce is twice as likely in couples where one person spends 10+ hours more than usual at work
25% say work is their main source of stress. 40% describe work as “very or extremely stressful”
(Facts from Business Insider)
It is not just about enjoying your time at work more.
Studies suggest the happier you are at work, the more productive you become. It is a win-win situation for both employers, employees and society as a whole.
But many factors like commuting and stress can make working a difficult experience.
So, does work add value for you or is it just a necessary evil? Do you work to live or live to work? And how could the time you do consecrate to your job be made more beneficial?
The Scandinavian model
Some companies in Sweden have shortened their working day, much to the delight of their employees.
Insiders has been to Gothenburg, where several public and private companies have been cutting working hours from eight to six with no associated cut in salary.
It sounds unlikely but it is true. And it works, as our reporter Valerie Gauriat has discovered.
Recipes against #burnout at work; my report in #Swedenhttps://t.co/Ge1AjoEfc3
euronewsinsidrs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/euronews">euronews— Valérie Gauriat (@valgauriat) October 7, 2016
Stakeholder structure in Germany
Having a share in your own company and choosing where and how many hours you work are among the ingredients that can make people more happy to go to work.
The mutual model predicts that employees will be more invested in what they do, enhancing productivity and profits.
Hans von der Brelie has been to Germany for Insiders to see for himself how the idea works in practice.