Many staff members express reluctance towards extended work hours - Most staff members refuse extended work periods
In a recent survey commissioned by career network Xing, a representative sample of 2,000 employees in Germany revealed that a majority do not wish to work more hours. The findings contradict calls from experts and politicians for longer working hours in the face of a shortage of skilled workers and demographic change.
The survey, conducted by the German Trade Union Confederation (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB), did not provide specifics about the questions asked or the methodology used. However, it did indicate that around two-thirds of the surveyed employees prefer to work fewer hours.
Overtime is considered too stressful by many employees, according to the survey. The results suggest that a majority of employees in Germany do not find longer working hours economically necessary.
Recently, Economics Minister Katharina Reiche (CDU) has advocated for longer working hours in Germany. Her proposals, however, seem to be at odds with the preferences of the majority of the workforce.
It's important to note that the survey did not provide information on the specific industries or job roles of the respondents. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the preferences for shorter working hours are consistent across all sectors.
The survey results come at a time when Germany is grappling with a shortage of skilled workers and demographic change. Politicians and experts have been advocating for people to work more and longer hours to address the labour shortage. However, the survey findings suggest that the workforce may not be in favour of such measures.
This survey serves as a reminder that policies affecting the workforce should take into account the views and preferences of employees. As the debate on working hours continues, it will be interesting to see how these findings influence the discussions and potential policy changes.
