Mr McGowan's Learning Blog: Zero Hour Contracts, Work Life Balance, and the Working Week

Monday 4 February 2013

Zero Hour Contracts, Work Life Balance, and the Working Week

Working 9 to 5, 5 days a week is the Western world’s model for productivity. Yes it is based on Factory hours, though my old factory used to start at 8.15 to 4.15.

However, with advances in technology, and people facing longer and more expensive commutes, is it really time for rethink our relationship with work?

Childcare costs are also on the rise, meaning that many parents now go part-time.

Then we have the issue of work-life balance. Is it too unhealthy and unproductive to work excessively long hours in order just to show off to the boss?

Plus technology should increase homeworking options for employees. Though homeworking does bring with it a whole host of other issues.

Zero hour contracts are also on the rise, which means staff are placed on call by employers and only get paid for the hours they do each week. There is no guarantee of a minimum amount of hours. Worrying for people trying to plan their future: i.e. buy a car or get a mortgage.

Here are a few articles on some of these issues. I have a friend who has recently become a father, and his employer has allowed him to work longer Tue-Fri in return for a Monday off, so he can look after his infant son. Not every employer would be so thoughtful! Is this the way of the future?

Perhaps in the future teachers will be using facetime or videoconferencing to educate pupils over vast geographical distances a bit like the Outback of Australia. That would have severe implications for the teaching profession. The one major disadvantage for pupils would be that it would remove the social aspect of school life, and isolate young people to an extent. Who would stay home to look after pupils when they “attend” virtual lessons?

If only we could sort out the infrastructure of our cities and our transport connections that could help people’s commute. Being tired after a long car journey before you even get to work is frustrating! HS2 hopefully is only the start of the modernisation of the UK’s road and rail.

Should the working week be shorter?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21242782

Which countries work the longest hours?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18144319