Gone are the days when working people waited for Sunday for a day to refresh as they worked hard for the rest of the six days of the week. Many schools and working organizations are now catching up with the trend of allowing five working days a week, realizing Sunday is not enough refreshing as Sunday is gone in household chores and other activities with no time to relax. Some don’t believe in the 5 day working scenario and says that it makes the person lazy and brings down the productivity. Some prefer it and says that it focuses on higher employee productivity and efficiency, than hours spent doing a particular job. Others also allow their employees to pick a day, on which they can telecommute and work from home.

The work routine these days is much more hectic than it was earlier. Organizations want their employees to get the much deserved break from the hectic work routine. The five day work week gives employees the necessary break from a demanding work environment. This is largely because IT companies which follow the new people driven economy believe in investing in the well being of their employees and work life balance has become a critical complement to the success of professionals at the work place. Companies have realized the importance of work-life balance and thus we on a short deadline, they encourage their employees to come in on the weekends and complete the desired assignment.

The most important thing for an organization to be successful is to meet the desired results at any cost, but at the same time they know that though work is important, so are the employees and that their personal lives should not be hampered by excessive work. To help their employees get this work life balance, organizations have lesser working days. The five day has raised questions like Does working only five days a week hamper the productivity and the outcome of an employee? Different people are of different opinion. Productivity requires good planning and time management skills. If people set longer timelines to complete work, they tend to stretch. When there is lesser time, the same work can get done sooner also.

For instance in the IT industry, productivity is state of mind while you are working. You can’t have better productivity, given the circumstances, with six-days working over a long period of time. Of course, there are project deadlines and to meet them employees do have to put in that extra effort on short term basis. Work and productivity depends on business requirement and planning. If there is a sudden situation that demands that switch, it should be done. If it is a practice, set as a result of trying to do things in a rush, at the last minute, due to inadequate planning, it only stresses employees. That, in any case, reduces productivity.

Employees have strong family commitment with parents or children. A 6-day working model takes a toll on family’s emotional and relational well-being. The new people driven economy offers far more options to balance work and home life. It is time that employers take advantage of these flexible options while re-establishing a healthy balance in employees personal and professional life.