Research Shows Why You Should Always Leave Work On Time

It’s five O’clock, you’ve done your shift and by rights it is time to go home, but are you made to feel guilty about it?

If you are one of the unfortunates who has a boss that will keep a running log of all the days where you’ve ‘shot’ out the door, there is good news.

Research carried out across a wide number of OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations has suggested that longer hours does not result in greater output or productivity.

The proof of this lies just over the Channel in France where the lucky buggers worked on average 200 hours less than UK citizens did in 2014, but they still influenced a strong economy.

In the UK the average was 1677 hours per year, and when you compare that to an economically weaker nation such as Greece, where the average was 2042 hours, or Mexico where they clocked 2228 hours in work, the lack of correlation is clear.

The rational part of my brain says these figures have to be taken with a pinch of salt. Some nations produce exports of a greater value, so workers can work less hours whilst having a greater economic output

But then the part of me that likes getting home on time kicks in and says use these statistics to your advantage.

So the next time your boss wants to draw attention to the fact you stick to the hours you were contractually set, give them a simple choice. They can have a tired lethargic you for longer, or a productive asset of greater economic value for less.

Whatever you do, don’t be a busy fool.