Calculating the costs of reducing working hours: Criticism and unanswered questions

Calculating the costs of reducing working hours: Criticism and unanswered questions

According to a report by www.derstandard.de, the experts at Agenda Austria have calculated the costs that companies would incur as a result of a reduction in working hours with full wage compensation. However, this has met with criticism as many questions remain unanswered.

Reductions in working hours can have different effects for companies in different industries. In the case of manufacturing companies, shorter working hours could lead to a reduction in production capacity, which in turn could have a negative impact on sales and profits. It is important to accurately calculate the productivity losses and resulting costs in order to make an informed decision.

For the financial industry, a reduction in working hours could mean that companies can offer fewer securities transactions and financial services, which would affect their revenues. There could also be lower demand for financial products as consumers have less time for their financial matters.

However, it is important to note that a better work-life balance can also have benefits for companies, such as higher employee satisfaction, reduced sickness absence and higher productivity during working hours.

Overall, it is difficult to make general statements about the effects of reduced working hours because many factors have to be taken into account. Each industry and company should conduct an individual cost-benefit analysis to better assess the potential impact on their market and financial industry.