Efficiency instead of overtime

The debate on longer working hours is currently being conducted intensively and, in some cases, controversially. A recent overview by the Hans Böckler Foundation summarizes the state of research and presents a nuanced picture of the current discussion on working hours.

The HBS overview suggests that the solution to increasing competitiveness does not necessarily lie in extending working hours. Instead, the research results indicate that there is significant potential for increasing efficiency through better work organization, the use of modern technologies, and working time arrangements that are geared to the needs of employees. On the other hand, as the studies show, simply extending working hours can be detrimental to health and motivation, which ultimately also has a negative impact on productivity and contradicts the wishes of many employees for more control over their time.

The authors therefore emphasize that a sustainable strategy should not focus primarily on “more hours,” but rather on how work can be made smarter and healthier. This includes investing in better processes, technology, and, above all, in working conditions and employees' control over their time in order to enable sustainable productivity gains.

We were also interested in the following topics:

• Foreign workers: Without foreign workers, there is a risk of massive shortages in numerous occupational fields. A recent analysis by the IAB shows that their share of employment growth is significantly higher than that of German workers. Above all, they fill the gaps in the labor market created by demographic change.

• Skilled labor potential: The Federal Employment Agency sees untapped potential in people with severe disabilities in the fight against the shortage of skilled workers. According to a recent report, many severely disabled unemployed people are well qualified but are less likely to find employment in the primary labor market.

• Founders with a migration background: A recent study by the Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research on behalf of the Bertelsmann Foundation highlights the important role of entrepreneurs with a migration background. They are a significant economic factor and contribute significantly to employment and innovation. However, obstacles remain, for example in terms of financing and a lack of networks.

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