Work Smarter, Not Longer: The Debate Over Hours, Success, and Mental Health

Watan-Does Professional Success Depend on Longer Working Hours or Commitment to Specific Tasks? The answer is not entirely clear. In recent years, social media platforms have been flooded with inspiring advice from successful entrepreneurs, both Arab and foreign, emphasizing the importance of dedication to work as a means of achieving dreams and accomplishing the impossible in the world of entrepreneurship.

On the other hand, psychiatrists warn about the dangers of burnout, stressing the importance of maintaining a balance between work and personal life to ensure psychological and family stability. So, do working hours actually impact professional success and mental health?

How Did the 8-Hour Workday Become the Standard?

The “8-8-8” Movement

During the 19th century, workers endured excessively long hours, ranging from 12 to 16 hours per day, six days a week, which negatively impacted their health and social lives. This led labor movements and unions to demand reduced working hours and better conditions, according to economic historian Robert Whaples, a professor at Wake Forest University.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the campaign for “8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest, 8 hours of sleep” gained traction, led by labor unions in Britain and the United States. The goal was to establish a balance between work and personal life.

Long Working Hours into the 20th Century

Extended working hours were not exclusive to the 19th century. Following World War I, steel mill workers endured 84-hour workweeks, roughly 12 hours per day. These long hours were widely deemed unacceptable and led to the 1919 general strike. Although the strike failed, U.S. Steel reduced the workday from 12 to 8 hours within four years.

International Labor Laws

In 1919, the International Labour Organization (ILO) set a global standard of 8 hours per day and a maximum of 48 hours per week, contributing to the formal adoption of this system worldwide.

In 1926, Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company, pioneered the 8-hour workday, five days a week, marking a significant milestone in labor rights.

The 6-Hour Workday During the Great Depression

During the 1930s Great Depression, the idea of a 6-hour workday emerged as a way to combat unemployment. The shift from 8-hour to 6-hour days, with a partial wage reduction, allowed companies to rehire laid-off workers and employ new ones.

By 1932, workers were earning the same wages for 6-hour shifts as they previously had for 8-hour ones, highlighting the potential benefits of reduced hours without productivity loss. Calls for a legal 6-hour workday reached the U.S. Senate, which passed a bill for a 30-hour workweek, but it failed in the House of Representatives.

Fair Labor Standards Act (1938)

After the failure of the 30-hour workweek bill, lawmakers and unions continued pushing for improved labor conditions. In the late 1930s, a compromise was reached:

In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which:

• Established the 8-hour workday and 5-day workweek as the standard.
• Set a federal minimum wage.
• Restricted child labor.
• Mandated overtime pay for workers exceeding 40 hours per week.

The Return of the 8-Hour Workday

Despite the popularity of the 6-hour workday among many workers, it began fading by the 1950s. By the end of the decade, most workers had returned to the 8-hour model, except for some women who continued working 6-hour days until the mid-1980s.

When asked why they reverted to 8-hour shifts, many workers cited the need for higher income as more important than shorter work hours. The perception of leisure time had changed, with financial gain taking precedence over free time.

What Is the 996 Work Model?

The “996” system is an unofficial work schedule common in some companies, particularly in China’s tech and startup sectors. It refers to working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week, totaling 72 hours per week. Critics have likened it to modern-day slavery.

Many major tech firms adopt this model to boost productivity and competitiveness, seeing it as essential in fast-growing industries like internet and technology. However, it is applied informally without legal obligations, serving as an internal standard for some companies.

Despite lawsuits filed by employees against companies enforcing this system, it has not been outright banned. However, there are increasing calls for stricter enforcement of labor laws.

Why You Shouldn’t Work More Than 8 Hours a Day

The debate over time versus money continues, but it has taken on a new dimension after the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis reshaped perceptions of work and life, prompting many to explore more flexible ways of working without sacrificing their entire lives to their jobs.

Work-related burnout, caused by poor work-life balance, negatively impacts productivity by leading to exhaustion, reduced focus, and increased sick leave, further diminishing output.

Implementing work-life balance programs—such as promoting adequate sleep and physical activity—helps employees manage stress by encouraging them to carve out personal time and engage in fulfilling activities outside of work, whether with family or through personal goals.

Achieving a better work-life balance has a significant effect on employees’ ability to concentrate and perform well, whether working remotely or in an office. Employees who are well-rested and less stressed maintain productivity for longer periods, and the resulting boost in morale allows them to deliver better service.

Millennials and Generation Z may have different perspectives on working hours than previous generations, as many are re-evaluating the importance of balancing professional and personal life.