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The standard we've known since Henry Ford's time is 40 hours a week.
However, today I came across this article:
Google – 60 hours a week is what it demands from its engineers.
TikTok – sometimes demands in China to work more due to "996 work culture" (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week)
I know it depends on the industry, but I can sometimes get something done in 5 hours and it's a better use of time than pretending for 3 hours that you do something.
Also, when I was at an advertising agency, a lot of my colleagues spent about 20% of their time having coffee or smoking. Sometimes it feels more like a certain number of hours are just socializing. 🤷♀️
Do you think that 40 hours/week is optimal or needs to be extended/reduced?
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Replies
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There's no one-size-fits-all answer - it depends on the work, the product, and the individual. This isn't really a question for an entrepreneur; when you're building something exciting, you might work 70 hours a week and still feel energized. But if you're stuck doing something uninspiring, even a few hours of "work" can feel exhausting and unproductive. Quality and passion matter more than just counting hours.
Especially in high-tech companies like Google, a data-driven approach would make more sense. These days, performance can likely be measured by impact and results rather than just the number of hours spent at work.
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@serge_neskoromny you are right. Tho working 70 hours/week is sometimes necessity to see first results.
I think its better to work 4 days for 6 hours 🙂↕️
@ilia_productdesigner This is my goal, I enjoy working just not 40 hours a week haha
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@ilia_productdesigner TBH, I work every day, but the time differs. Sometimes it is 3 hours. Sometimes 5. It works for me to get my job done when I am the most productive with a lot of energy.
As 👏 long 👏 as 👏 one 👏 needs 👏 to 👏 get 👏 the 👏 job 👏 done
(and be happily satisfied of course)
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@aishwaryalohi This is gold! I need this to print and hang over my bed! :D
I feel like I'm productive for around 4-6 hours max depending on the day (more 4 hour days than 6 tbh). However only working 4 hours means half a pay check so I have to keep myself busy for the other 8 even if I'm only half as effective.
Right now working 12-14 hour days though due to working on my own SaaS while still working my full time job
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@alan_rivera Working on your own business is a different story. You need to sometimes "pay" extra time to see results. This question is more employee-oriented tho.
Great! It has also became quite a topic here in Indonesia! In Indonesia, the standard workweek is also 40 hours, but I personally think it could be slightly reduced to 32-35 hours/week for better work-life balance. For now, I believe 40 hours is quite optimal here, especially considering Indonesia’s cultural background, where people highly value family time and enjoying life. Extending it might not align well with this mindset.
That said, it really depends on the industry. For example, engineers or tech roles often require longer hours due to the nature of their work. Also, in my opinion, socializing is a small but necessary part of work—it helps with team building and maintaining a positive work environment. Sometimes, those coffee breaks or casual chats can lead to great ideas!
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@rani_zagita Do you know someone in Indonesia who works less than 40 h/week?
@busmark_w_nika To be frank, not much. Most of my friends who called themselves 'corporate slaves', they work exactly 40 hours/week. Some other friends I know are entrepreneurs. They don't have official working hours, but since they own their own businesses, they strive harder than their workers, and I just know that they definitely work almost 24/7.
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@rani_zagita I think that it is like that everywhere. When you want to see results as entrepreneur, 40 hours/week is minimum.
To be honest this really varies based on stages of life and how much you get done in a specified amount of time.
In addition to this you can get more done in less amount of time if you have really rested your brain well with good night of sleep.
However, there are other factors such as inherent passion, drive and dogged determination and grit to win that keeps you running.
More number of hours worked is not necessarily equal to much getting done.
Alta
The 40-hour workweek isn't a one-size-fits-all solution anymore. It's all about productivity, not hours spent in the office. If you can get more done in less time, why drag it out? The focus should shift to efficiency and results, not just clocking in hours. Work culture should adapt to that, rather than sticking to outdated standards.
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I stand for this opinion too. To extend the time spend in the office can k*ll your potential, waste time and apathy to work.
Great post, @busmark_w_nika In startups, long hours aren’t just a choice—they’re often a necessity when resources are tight. I’ve seen teams push through insane workloads, not because of outdated work norms, but because there’s no other way to get things done. Efficiency matters, but when you're building something from the ground up, relentless effort is just part of the game :(
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@sonu_goswami2 Was it because of due to lack of human force or because the company couldn't achieve goals?
Why there should be workweek in the first place?
Maybe that is the right question.
No offense to anybody, but in most of the industries, and Im including the ones I have been in in the past, 90% of the work is useless.
The goal of the 40 hour work week is not to get the best out of you for the least amount of money so they can maximize profit.
The goal is to drain your energy and give you just about enough so you never doubt the reason you work in the first place.
But we will go back to chicken and egg situation when everybody says the same answer to my statement...."but we have to eat"...
Have a great Saturday. Nice post Nika <3
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@cryptosymposium TBH, I am so attached to work that I would feel without purpose to work a certain amount of time. I just need only flexibility. :) Have a nice weekend and thank you for your input :)
I think the 40-hour workweek should be reduced. Productivity isn’t about hours logged—it’s about meaningful output. Many studies show that shorter workweeks can boost focus and efficiency while reducing burnout. For example, I often get more done in 5 focused hours than in 8 distracted ones. A 30-35 hour week could give people more balance and still maintain (or even improve) productivity. Quality over quantity!
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@mewdoro In creative work, pretty fair. Would you stick to the same rewarding in terms of salaries?
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