I´ve been a strong supporter of a 6 hour workday for a long time. I share the same views as those expressed in the article. We will be more productive by working less hours and at the same time be healthier. In the long run it will save the company money and increase profitability, keep the employees happy, all without having to cut the paycheck.

A Swedish city has embarked on an experiment in limiting the workday to six hours in an effort to improve productivity.

A section of employees of the municipality of Gothenburg will now work an hour less a day than the seven hours customary in the Scandinavian social democracy famed for its work-life balance.

The measure is being self-consciously conceived of as an experiment, with a group of municipal employees working fewer hours and a control group working regular hours - all on the same pay. The groups’ performances will then be compared.

It is hoped that the experiment will ultimately save money by making employees more productive in their working hours.

Mats Pilhem, the city’s Left-wing deputy mayor, told The Local Sweden that he hoped “staff members would take fewer sick days and feel better mentally and physically after working shorter days".

Image via The National Archives. The image is named “interior view, showing office workers in the Lever Brothers office building”, ca 1959, New York City, New York by an unknown photographer.