New research points towards the end of the 40-hour work week [Video]

Seven in 10 (70%) Irish professionals state that the current 40-hour work week doesn’t suit them and a majority (53%) believe a four-day week would improve productivity, according to new research from Robert Walters.

A further third (36%) of respondents said that greater flexibility could be the answer to increasing productivity and engagement levels as employees reject traditional working patterns.

“The conventional 40-hour workweek which has remained largely unchanged for over a century, is now facing an uncertain future,” said Suzanne Feeney, country manager of Robert Walters Ireland.

“This highlights a growing discontentment that employers must urgently acknowledge and work to rectify.”

Globally, the rate of employee engagement sits at 23%, but it is much lower in both Europe (13%) and Ireland (10%).

NERI recently found that Irish professionals work longer hours than their European peers while generating less value per hour.

Since July, employers in Greece have been allowed to extend their …