What is it about?
By monitoring computer metrics all-day, every day, for hundreds of workers over years of work, the authors have noticed a consistent pattern with Friday computer use vs. the first 4 days of the week. The pattern is even more stark when comparing Friday afternoons. If companies are looking for ways to save money and improve morale, the Friday dip may be a great place to start.
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Why is it important?
Remote and hybrid work are constantly in the news. Various takes from companies and employees abound on this topic and the idea of a reduced work week. Amidst all the talk is very little objective data around what works and what doesn't. This research reveals computer count, error and usage data collected by ergonomic software that is intended to reduce work related musculoskeletal disorders. The analysis of count data by day of the week reveals clear patterns that employers and employees can agree on with respect to how to design the work week.
Perspectives
This article flowed from similar research our team has conducted following hurricanes and pandemics where office workers were suddenly forced to work from home. Now that a new normal of mostly hybrid work seems to be more standard, the results here should further amplify the ability of workers to spend part of the week remote and potentially for Friday afternoons, to clock out and spend time on quality of life activities of a more personal nature. As AI and other tech advancements continue to allow us to work more frequently we are at an inflection point regarding work efficiency. IF we can do in 30 hours what used to take 40, should we spend 40 in an office anyway?
mark benden
Texas A&M University College Station
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Examining workweek variations in computer usage patterns: An application of ergonomic monitoring software, PLoS ONE, July 2023, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287976.
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