Is this what a fun weekend looks like?

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan shot down the option of switching to a five-day workweek for government employees, last week. But could getting Saturdays off actually boost productivity inside your office? We find out

The success of Timothy Ferriss' 2007 seminal book, The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, had everything to do with the American author's ability to identify the professional's imagined aspiration: the luxury of 'free' time. Last week, the central government turned down the proposal by the General Administration Department (GAD) to switch over to a five-day workweek in government and semi-government offices. Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan has instructed the department to stick to the current system, which allows employees to take the second and fourth Saturdays off.

Had the proposal been approved, the number of monthly workdays would have been reduced to 23 from 25. To make up for the loss in working hours, the department suggested increasing the 8-hour workday to 8.45 hours instead. The argument was that employees would get more time for themselves and their families, while the benefit to managements was that they could save on fuel and electricity costs. According to corporate trainer Anita Shantaram five-day workweeks are essential to achieving work-life balance.

"In a six-day workweek, the seventh day is spent recovering from the strain of the previous week, planning ahead and doing chores. This leaves no time to indulge in hobbies," she says, adding, "Research shows that more hours spent in the office, don't translate into higher productivity." Rahul Wadhwani, managing partner with a company that provides HR services, is in favour of the five-day workweek, but in the private sector.

"Professionals end up working longer hours, and often work a six-day week, because of staff crunches. Five-day workweeks help people streamline their targets. But in the public sector, there is a lack of motivation to put in extra hours, as there is a fixed tenure to scale the promotion ladder." "Besides, a happier employee ups productivity as well,"u00a0 he concludes.

In favour of the five-day workweek?
Dr Kavita Gupta, Principal secretary (Labour), Mantralaya
Maybe. We currently get second and fourth Saturdays off. While a five-day workweek can benefit employees who travel long distances, people might get inconvenienced by lack of access to government offices and officials.

Priya Dhavan, brand manager at a consumer service organisation
Yes. We get alternate Saturdays off and I feel that a five-day workweek should be implemented even in the private sector. I am fine with an extra work hour, as I end up working for more than eight hours anyway.

Chitra Pandit, Head-Marketing, Akanksha
Depends. After working in a publishing house, I decided to switch to the social sector. I had to take a pay cut and tackle more responsibilities, but I opted for a four-day workweek, which enables me to juggle family, hobbies and friends.

Countries that have a five-day workweek
>>u00a0United States
>> United Kingdom
>> Australia
>> Canada
>> China
>> EU
>> Sweden