Longer working hours can actually hurt productivity and efficiency
The average Canadian worked 1,751 hours in 2004, about 43 work days, more than the Dutch, Germans, French and Danes.
However, working more doesn't equal greater productivity. Canada's gross domestic product is very similar to that of many European countries and below that of some.
For example, the Irish work 6 per cent fewer hours on average than Canadians, yet the economic output per person beats Canada's by 14 per cent.
Canadians could actually work fewer hours without it making a dent in the GDP, according to Ron Burke, a professor of organizational behaviour at Toronto's York University's Schulich School of Business.
Burke added that working long hours might also increase the likelihood of people making mistakes.
Powerful unions deserve much of the credit for bringing down the average working hours in Europe, while reducing working hours was never a top priority for North American unions.
For Canadian society, the last big cut in working hours came 50 years ago when Canada cut the work week from six to five days. At the time, the business community warned the economy would collapse as a result. However, Canadian Labour Congress economist Andrew Jackson said every significant step to reduce working time has been accompanied by a sharp increase in productivity.
However, there's little indication that Canadians will see an increase in vacation days, according to University of Montreal economics professor Michael Huberman. Between 1980 and 2000, European countries added six vacation days or statutory holidays on average, to a total of 36, while Canada dropped a day, to a total of 24.
However, working more doesn't equal greater productivity. Canada's gross domestic product is very similar to that of many European countries and below that of some.
For example, the Irish work 6 per cent fewer hours on average than Canadians, yet the economic output per person beats Canada's by 14 per cent.
Canadians could actually work fewer hours without it making a dent in the GDP, according to Ron Burke, a professor of organizational behaviour at Toronto's York University's Schulich School of Business.
Burke added that working long hours might also increase the likelihood of people making mistakes.
Powerful unions deserve much of the credit for bringing down the average working hours in Europe, while reducing working hours was never a top priority for North American unions.
For Canadian society, the last big cut in working hours came 50 years ago when Canada cut the work week from six to five days. At the time, the business community warned the economy would collapse as a result. However, Canadian Labour Congress economist Andrew Jackson said every significant step to reduce working time has been accompanied by a sharp increase in productivity.
However, there's little indication that Canadians will see an increase in vacation days, according to University of Montreal economics professor Michael Huberman. Between 1980 and 2000, European countries added six vacation days or statutory holidays on average, to a total of 36, while Canada dropped a day, to a total of 24.
