CANBERRA: Australians work the longest hours in the developed world, though the country's workforce became the first in the world to secure an eight-hour working day, a recent study has suggested.
But the Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research Professor Mark Wooden strongly rejected the finding. "The idea we work the most hours in the world is absolute crap. Lots of people work long hours and lots of people work short hours. We have a mix," The Age quoted Wooden, as saying.
He said workers in Japan and Korea work longer than Australians and comparing working hours between countries was unjustified.e added that people tend to exaggerate their working hours to show "badge of courage". His research showed the number of Australians working for over 50 hours a week increased in the mid-1990s. "Over the last 10 years, the proportion of Australians working long hours has been dropping," he said. He also found that no link existed between people's working hours and life satisfaction.
His research can be substantiated with Australian Work and Life Index findings, which suggest that Australians are increasingly complaining about work interfering their lifestyles. An Australian National University sociologist Brenton Prosser, however, said Australians are working longer and that technological change has made their work more stressful.
But the Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research Professor Mark Wooden strongly rejected the finding. "The idea we work the most hours in the world is absolute crap. Lots of people work long hours and lots of people work short hours. We have a mix," The Age quoted Wooden, as saying.
He said workers in Japan and Korea work longer than Australians and comparing working hours between countries was unjustified.e added that people tend to exaggerate their working hours to show "badge of courage". His research showed the number of Australians working for over 50 hours a week increased in the mid-1990s. "Over the last 10 years, the proportion of Australians working long hours has been dropping," he said. He also found that no link existed between people's working hours and life satisfaction.
His research can be substantiated with Australian Work and Life Index findings, which suggest that Australians are increasingly complaining about work interfering their lifestyles. An Australian National University sociologist Brenton Prosser, however, said Australians are working longer and that technological change has made their work more stressful.