In a study cited by the Talent Culture, patterns in productivity and hours spent at work have been measured to determine if there is a connection between the two. It was found that two of the most productive countries in the world, Germany and France, spend less amount at work but are more productive. 

On the other hand, Mexico and South Korea, two other countries who have been found to spend more hours at work, have been found to be less productive compared to other countries. So where does this leave us? Does time at work have anything to do with productivity? Does geography or national culture have anything to do with the employees’ ability to do more in less time? Spoiler alert: the key to productivity isn’t putting in more hours.

As reported by The Balance, company culture is defined as the soul of a corporation. It includes a variety of elements such as the work environment, company mission, value, ethics, expectations, and goals among many others. 

A good company culture promotes employee morale which results to productivity. As reported by the Society for Human Resource Management, companies with the most progressive HR management systems proved to be more competitive than other companies who didn’t. 

This findings explain why putting in less hours has been equated to productivity among employees. When employees spend less time at work, they are less likely to be a stressed, and get burnt out. They are more able to concentrate on the task at hand and come up with original ideas to help the company advance. The work state of employees does not only reflect on the company’s ability to take care of its employees but also the ability to promote self-development among the workers themselves. 

Self-development coaches around the world have stressed about the importance of self-care. It’s an important means for personal growth. There are also different ways written on books, blogs and even on social media for individuals to take care of themselves. But in the corporate scene, an employee can best take care of himself if the company also exerts effort in creating a work environment that will allow them to thrive minus the inhumane stress. 

Aside from self-development, employees’ stress and hours spent at work also affect their social development. Social development coaching is also often needed by employees, especially young professionals. 

Although the workplace can be a good training ground for young professionals who are yet to master their craft, it can also hinder them from learning from their peers. Being in an overly stressful work environment doesn’t make room for effective communication among colleagues, which decreases their chance of learning from and with each other. This is why in stressful workplaces, it is recommended for employees to undergo social development coaching.

So what does all of this say for companies? Two things. First is that the hours don’t determine the output. Longer hours in their desks doesn’t make your employees productive. The notion that a person can work for eight straight hours every day is a myth. The key is to motivate them to get more things done in a shorter period minus the unnecessary stress. 

And second, company culture doesn’t only promote good team dynamics among employees. Its effects span beyond the team to the company and its future. Of course, to say that your company should be perfect won’t make sense. However, it is possible to make more growth conducive not only for the company but also for its workers, and that is what you should aim for.