The UK is considering legislation that would allow workers to request a four-day work week with longer shifts, which may enhance productivity and provide better work-life balance. However, compressing work hours could mean employees work nearly two extra hours daily, posing potential risks such as increased accidents and decreased decision-making quality. Evidence supports that longer work hours contribute to higher workplace injury rates, particularly impacting performance due to insufficient rest. Thus, while the benefits may appear attractive, significant concerns reflect the challenges of longer shifts on worker health and safety.
The right to request a short working week, with four longer shifts and three days off is being proposed as part of new flexible working legislation in the UK.
Compressed hours mean that, instead of working 7.5 hours a day for five days, you would work 9.4 hours per day for four days.
There is strong evidence that longer work hours result in more errors and accidents and are linked to poorer decision-making.
The risk of a workplace accident is on average 13% higher for a ten-hour shift than an eight-hour shift.
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