Reducing overtime work
Do you find yourself dawdling at work until late at night, even though you have nothing in particular to be working on?
It will be impossible to reduce overtime work as long as individual workers feel it’s only natural to work late and on holidays. First, it is important to correct the tendency to see spending long hours at work as a good thing and instill an awareness that overtime work is a last resort to be taken only in extraordinary or urgent circumstances.
It is also necessary to consider improvements in work methods so that particular workers are not overloaded with responsibilities, forcing them to work overtime.
The University manages overtime work by administrative staff members by means of a Working Time Record System in conjunction with Confirmation and Order of Overtime Work Notes (for Part-time Workers). Staff members are asked to try to leave promptly at the end of the workday unless they have a task that must be completed that day by working overtime.
Why reduce overtime work?
Staff members’ lives consist of not only work time, but also personal free time, family time, and time to interact with their communities. The more time workers spend working late and on holidays, the less of this time they can enjoy. Overtime work also takes a toll on health and creativity, making the workplace an unpleasant place to be and lowering efficiency. These effects are good for neither the workplace nor individual staff members.
1.Personal free time
In order for staff members to enjoy meaningful and self-fulfilling free time, it is essential for them to reduce overtime work and secure time for themselves.
2.Family time
Each staff member is also part of a family. When employees work overtime, families have less time to spend together. When family members cannot eat meals together and find themselves with barely enough time to even speak to one another during the course of a day, it becomes difficult to enjoy a rich family life.
3.Interaction with the community
Each staff member is also a member of his or her local community. When employees work overtime, it becomes difficult for them to participate in a variety of community activities due to restrictions on the amount of time they have available for such interactions. With people living longer than ever before after retirement, it is becoming more important for individuals to interact with other members of their local communities and to participate in activities as members of their local communities.
4.Health and creativity
Working late at night or on holidays is a major source of fatigue and stress. Additionally, it is impossible to work creatively and take advantage of your full abilities when you are constantly harried and feeling behind. It is important to cut down on overtime work and regain a sense of physical and emotional well-being and relaxation in order to lead a healthy and creative life.
Based on these facts, it is important for individual staff members to be aware of the dangers of overtime work so that they can reduce the number of hours they spend in the office late at night and on holidays.