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Does anyone want to work 5 days per week and 8 hours per day? Issues in R&D work efficiency

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Listed:
  • Raul Ruubel
  • Aaro Hazak

Abstract

Social norms in regard to weekly and daily working times emerged more than a century ago. The nature of work and the means of doing work have, however, changed a lot over that time. Based on a survey among Estonian creative R&D employees, we sought to understand what types of employees prefer what types of work schedules. It appears that compared to men, women prefer a week where work is concentrated into 3–4 days, while men have a higher preference for a working week spread over 6–7 days. Those who sleep less than the usual 7–8 hours tend to prefer the latter working week arrangement as well. Moreover, general health, morning-types versus evening-types as well as educational level appear to have a significant impact on preferences about weekly and daily work schedules. The standard five-day working weeks and eight-hour working days may not be optimal for everyone. This is an important aspect that R&D employers and regulators should keep in mind when aiming to benefit from the full creative potential of their employees and maximising their individual wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Raul Ruubel & Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Does anyone want to work 5 days per week and 8 hours per day? Issues in R&D work efficiency," TUT Economic Research Series 31, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    • Handle: RePEc:ttu:tuteco:31
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Non-creative tasks: a turn off for creative R&D employees," TUT Economic Research Series 28, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    2. René Böheim & Mark P. Taylor, 2004. "Actual and Preferred Working Hours," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 42(1), pages 149-166, March.
    3. Marit Rebane & Aaro Hazak & Kadri Männasoo, 2017. "Women need flexible work, but men get it – issues in R&D work efficiency," TUT Economic Research Series 30, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    4. Heili Hein & Aaro Hazak & Kadri Männasoo, 2017. "Who has a better chance of getting higher salaries among creative R&D employees?," TUT Economic Research Series 39, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    5. David Bell & Steffen Otterbach & Alfonso Sousa-Poza, 2012. "Work Hours Constraints and Health," Annals of Economics and Statistics, GENES, issue 105-106, pages 35-54.
    6. Marit Rebane & Heili Hein & Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Does flexible work make R&D employees happier?," TUT Economic Research Series 23, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    7. Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Better not to ask your employees to come to work? Issues in R&D work efficiency," TUT Economic Research Series 32, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    8. Kadri Männasoo & Heili Hein, 2017. "Are R&D companies credit-constrained? Credit frictions during and post-crisis," TUT Economic Research Series 29, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    9. Heili Hein & Kadri Männasoo, 2017. "Are business obstacles different for R&D companies?," TUT Economic Research Series 33, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    10. Kadri Männasoo & Heili Hein, 2017. "Learning from abroad: Export versus foreign ownership," TUT Economic Research Series 36, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    11. Marko Virkebau & Aaro Hazak & Kadri Männasoo, 2017. "More flexibility, better results? Issues in R&D work efficiency," TUT Economic Research Series 24, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    12. Viive Pille & Viiu Tuulik & Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Sitting at a desk at work makes creative employees tired," TUT Economic Research Series 34, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    13. Erve Sõõru & Aaro Hazak & Marit Rebane, 2017. "Long working days and falling asleep at work – issues in R&D work efficiency," TUT Economic Research Series 38, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    14. Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Fixed-term contracts – a turnoff for R&D employees," TUT Economic Research Series 35, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    15. Kadri Männasoo & Heili Hein, 2017. "Capital investments and financing structure: Are R&D companies different?," TUT Economic Research Series 26, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    16. Erve Sõõru & Heili Hein & Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Why force owls to start work early? The work schedules of R&D employees and sleep," TUT Economic Research Series 25, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marit Rebane & Heili Hein & Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Does flexible work make R&D employees happier?," TUT Economic Research Series 23, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    2. Kadri Männasoo & Heili Hein, 2017. "Are R&D companies credit-constrained? Credit frictions during and post-crisis," TUT Economic Research Series 29, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    3. Viive Pille & Viiu Tuulik & Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Sitting at a desk at work makes creative employees tired," TUT Economic Research Series 34, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    4. Kadri Männasoo & Heili Hein, 2017. "Capital investments and financing structure: Are R&D companies different?," TUT Economic Research Series 26, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    5. Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Non-creative tasks: a turn off for creative R&D employees," TUT Economic Research Series 28, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    6. Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Better not to ask your employees to come to work? Issues in R&D work efficiency," TUT Economic Research Series 32, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    7. Erve Sõõru & Heili Hein & Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Why force owls to start work early? The work schedules of R&D employees and sleep," TUT Economic Research Series 25, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    8. Erve Sõõru & Aaro Hazak & Marit Rebane, 2017. "Long working days and falling asleep at work – issues in R&D work efficiency," TUT Economic Research Series 38, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    9. Aaro Hazak, 2017. "Fixed-term contracts – a turnoff for R&D employees," TUT Economic Research Series 35, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    10. Kadri Männasoo & Heili Hein, 2017. "Learning from abroad: Export versus foreign ownership," TUT Economic Research Series 36, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    11. Marko Virkebau & Aaro Hazak & Kadri Männasoo, 2017. "Using flexitime – for better work or a better life? Issues in R&D work efficiency," TUT Economic Research Series 27, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    12. Heili Hein & Kadri Männasoo, 2017. "Are business obstacles different for R&D companies?," TUT Economic Research Series 33, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    13. Marko Virkebau & Aaro Hazak & Kadri Männasoo, 2017. "More flexibility, better results? Issues in R&D work efficiency," TUT Economic Research Series 24, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    14. Marit Rebane & Aaro Hazak & Kadri Männasoo, 2017. "Women need flexible work, but men get it – issues in R&D work efficiency," TUT Economic Research Series 30, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.
    15. Heili Hein & Aaro Hazak & Kadri Männasoo, 2017. "Who has a better chance of getting higher salaries among creative R&D employees?," TUT Economic Research Series 39, Department of Finance and Economics, Tallinn University of Technology.

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