Less work, more play!
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In July, Sri Lanka’s Parliament was informed that draft laws were being drafted providing legal provision for working from home (WFH), a concept that has become popular after the COVID-19 crisis.The then Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara told Parliament that this provision was one of the changes being introduced in a new labour law that is to be introduced and is in the drafting stage.
If there is something of some benefit other than a serious awareness of communicable diseases like COVID-19 – a respiratory virus which spreads rapidly from an infected person- that emerged during the global health crisis three years ago, it is the concept of work from home which has become ingrained in our lifestyles. The debate of a work-life balance is at its peak and never before have societies begun to confront the reality that gone are the days of a traditional 8 am-5 pm workday, five or six times a week.
While the effort to introduce regulations enabling a work-from-home environment – and whether or not it would even be implemented if President Ranil Wickremesinghe fails to win the presidential poll on September 21 – is being contemplated, many companies are still providing facilities for a hybrid working environment. People, whose work can be done remotely, are allowed a few days to work from home and the rest of the week in the office. A balance between family life and work has taken on a new meaning in the global arena of an active labour force.
In the same context, another development in the working population is the plan for shorter working weeks – four day work-weeks – and more off days to overcome burnout, stress and other related issues like long hours spent on the road during traffic congestion in the mornings and the evenings.
As I checked some websites for more information on what other countries are doing to reduce the traditional 5-day work week and enable working from home facilities, I called ‘Human resource’ pundit H.R. Perera, popularly known as HR, for some guidance on this subject.
“Hi…HR, how are you doing?” I asked. “Fine…..fine, I am following the election campaign with interest,” he replied. “Yes, the interesting element in this presidential race is that with three strong candidates, it’s no longer a two-horse race. Thus, a second count of preferences, for the first time, will surely emerge on September 21,” I said, adding that I was calling him to discuss plans for a hybrid working model and shorter working week.
“I don’t know about a shorter working week, but all that I can say is that working from home for a few days and the rest (of the week) in the office would help in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Essential family time, reduced stress and healthy eating habits (instead of grabbing an unhealthy meal from a wayside vendor while in office), have become the essence of a balanced and healthy lifestyle,” he said.
“Globally too, companies are moving towards a hybrid system while shorter working weeks (with more work hours during the week) are also being encouraged,” I said, before engaging him in a conversation on the presidential election and its outcome.
This was the same topic (elections) that the trio was discussing during their often ‘gossipy’ conversation under the margosa tree. “Mokakda mathiwarana paththey wenney (What’s happening on the election front),” asked Serapina. “Palamu warata shakthimath apekshakayan thun denek innawa. Kavuru dinaida kiyala katawath kiyanna bae (For the first time there are three strong candidates. Who would win is anybody’s guess),” said Mabel Rasthiyadu.
“Kawda danney, loku wenasak wei wagey (Who knows, we may be in for a dramatic change),” said Kussi Amma Sera. “Apita avashya dushanaya nethi karana saha hamoma neethiya pilipadini wenasak (A change where corruption is eliminated and everyone follows the law is what is needed),” added Serapina.
The movement towards shorter working weeks is gaining momentum in the world. For instance, according to news reports, in Britain, the new Labour government is toying with the idea of a four-day week following the trends in some other countries in Europe.
The UK Government has said that employers will not be forced to approve workers’ requests for such flexible working conditions, nor will employees be obliged to make the switch to a four-day workweek. “But business groups have urged caution over the potential Labour plans for ‘compressed hours’, while the Conservatives have said such a move would cause growth to ‘suffer’ and leave businesses ‘petrified’,” one report said.
According to another news report, Japan – a nation so hardworking that it is literally working itself to death – is trying to convince more people and companies to adopt a four-day work-week.
“The Japanese government first expressed support for a shorter working week in 2021, after lawmakers endorsed the idea. The concept has been slow to catch on, however; about 8 per cent of companies in Japan allow employees to take three or more days off per week, while 7 per cent give their workers the legally mandated one day off, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare,” the report said.
Sometime ago, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, a study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), showed that Sri Lanka’s current economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in great losses of work hours and jobs due to the difficulties in transportation, lack of fuel, health regulations and other basic necessities.
Some firms overcame these problems by allowing workers to work from home or telework (using technology). However, not all workers can do this. This study identified how the WFH policy affects the economic engagement of different workers in Sri Lanka.
The study showed that the potential for WFH depends on the industry and occupation of work and socio-economic factors such as age, gender, education, income and geographical location. It further illustrated that employees with low educational attainment and living in rural and estate areas are unable to WFH.
A lot of water has flown under the bridge since then, with hybrid work systems – working from home and in the office and more hours at work and shorter working weeks – probably being the panacea for all ills.
As I pondered over these issues in coming to the end of my column, my thoughts were also on the election campaign, as candidates hurl abuse and allegations against each other, providing some light entertainment in the coming days.
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