Our Thoughts on the 6-Hour Workday

When we started Brath, we knew that we wanted a 6-hour workday, and we’re quite certain that it’s both good for the company (or at least not particularly bad) and good for our employees.

We chose to work 6 hours a day at the office while still receiving a full-time salary. Of course, everyone is expected to keep learning and deepening their skills in their free time, but largely in areas they choose themselves. We’re also quite convinced that this is beneficial, both for the company and for the employees. We’ve had shorter workdays since we started about 10 years ago. A lot has been written about it, and here you can find a selection of articles about us.

Many people are negative toward the idea of shorter workdays, and many are positive. We’re convinced that it works well for us, and here’s our perspective. Naturally, there are drawbacks. Some struggle with the shorter days, feeling it’s difficult to get everything done. But of course, the same is true in workplaces with normal hours, and just like anywhere else, there’s no ban on staying longer if you fall behind.

So what makes the 6-hour workday so valuable, in our view?
To begin with, it’s simply nice to have a calmer pace. Personally, I need time in the morning to collect my thoughts and get going, and it’s nice to do that without having to sit in the office until late in the evening. That’s probably the most obvious benefit.

It also makes so many other things easier for all employees. Instead of waiting in long lines at the liquor store when everyone else is there, we finish an hour earlier and can take care of errands more easily – an extra time gain. This shows up in many ways: no rush hour commuting, easier daycare pickups, and so on.

We feel better. It’s quite clear that everyone in the office has improved well-being. Life balance is easier, and there’s more time for family. It’s no problem to squeeze in a workout before work when the gym is empty. We have one or two extra hours to cook dinner, and we’re simply more rested than most others.

It’s easier to recruit really good people. When I tell candidates that we have a 6-hour workday, their faces light up. Of course, it’s not always easy to find all the skills we need in northern Sweden, but we get first pick of the best talent. That’s tough competition for other companies offering free soda and a fruit bowl on Mondays.

Our employees manage the “life puzzle.” Parents of young children have more time for family and home, reducing – or at least easing – the guilt of not being enough either at work or at home. We have time to wind down after work, cook and eat proper meals, spend time with friends, exercise, rest, and recharge. This means we start each workday refreshed and ready to go. In the long run, I’m convinced this will reduce – or hopefully eliminate – long-term sick leave.

That our employees appreciate the 6-hour workday isn’t something I just think – it’s something I know. In the debate, one woman said that if you enjoy your job, you’ll want to work 8 hours a day. That may be true for some, but I believe that given the choice, most people would prefer to go home after 6 hours. After all, there are other things in life we enjoy doing too.

We believe we get as much done in 6 hours as our industry colleagues do in 8. Our work is highly creative, and you simply can’t sustain that level of creativity at full speed for more than 6 hours. If we worked 8 hours, the pace would slow down, and recovery time would shrink. It’s precisely when we slow down and let our minds and bodies rest that some of our best ideas emerge.

A few circulating claims
There’s been a lot of talk about our 6-hour days, probably because everyone has a political agenda when it comes to shorter working hours. That’s why I want to address a few common claims and respond to them.

Claim: It works in northern Sweden because salaries are low
We don’t pay lower salaries than others in the industry, regardless of location – if anything, we pay slightly above average. I’ve personally recruited in SEO for a long time and know the salary levels. Whether you can afford shorter workdays isn’t really about salaries, but about margins. Experienced business owners understand that.

Claim: It’s more stressful than working 8 hours
Some people do feel more stressed, thinking they must be done by 4 PM. That’s something we’re aware of. Of course, there’s no ban on working full hours, or staying longer if needed. When we look closely at how much time those who feel stressed actually work, it usually adds up to about normal hours, and in my view, people simply get used to working 9–4. It stops feeling like you’re “gaining” two hours – it just feels normal.

Claim: It works because they’re a staffing agency
We don’t lease staff at all, and we don’t bill by the hour.

Claim: It’s a political statement
I’d never use my company as a political weapon. I care about running my business as well as possible. I want to build something good and I want to make money. If anyone claims this isn’t good for my company, my suggestion is simple: build something better and outcompete me. Until you do, I don’t care about your opinion of what’s best for my business.

Claim: They’re unprofitable and not competitive
Anyone who has followed us knows that we’ve been growing since the start. The pandemic year was tough, since many of our major clients were in travel, but this year we’re back on track and will hit record revenues again. We’ve been steadily profitable since day one – with last year as the only exception – and this year is no different. We’ve been awarded DI Gasell two years in a row and ranked top ten in the “Growth League” for revenue growth in Västernorrland. There’s nothing wrong with our growth.

Finally, I want to say something that probably shines through in my earlier answers. I’m a strong believer in market economy. So-called experts and commentators who think they know best how companies should operate earn my respect only if they prove it. Complaining about other companies’ models and claiming they’re bad is worthless in my eyes. Put your money where your mouth is. To everyone cheering us on, though (and there have been plenty of positive comments), thank you! We’ll continue doing our very best to always stay at the forefront.