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Working lesser improves health and environment, says study
Posted on: 02/Sep/2016 9:33:59 AM
A leading sociologist has authored a paper claiming that working fewer hours may be good for both our mental health and the health of the planet. He is the author of the paper named Inventing the Future.
Says the expert, Reducing the average work week from five days to four could reduce American energy use by a whopping 20 per cent. It could also improve our mental state. The paper explores how new technology could change how we work. It pulls together several studies to argue that three-day weekends could drastically reduce energy consumption and create an economy that is more environments friendly.
The paper cites a 2006 study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, and explains that instituting a three-day weekend would reduce the amount of time Americans spend commuting to work in gas-guzzling, fume-spewing cars, as well as the amount of energy used by offices to keep lights, computers, and air conditioning running all day. It also notes that a 2015 study in Sweden found that, for workers, fewer hours not only reduced illness, but increased productivity. Overall, the expert claims that after reviewing numerous studies of both the environmental and the psychological impact of fewer work hours, there is substantial evidence that reducing the number of days in the work week would improve environmental and mental wellbeing without damaging productivity.
Speaking about this, the expert says, Directing gains in economic efficiency towards increased free time and reduced energy consumption, rather than making more stuff, could create a better and more environmentally safe world.
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