Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Reach Us
    • Career
    Subscribe Newsletter
    HR KathaHR Katha
    • Exclusive
      • Exclusive Features
      • Research
      • Point Of View
      • Case In Point
      • Dialogue
      • Movement
      • Profile
      • Beyond Work
      • Rising Star
      • By Invitation
    • News
      • Global HR News
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Diversity
      • Events
      • Gen Y
      • Hiring & Firing
      • HR & Labour Laws
      • Learning & Development
      • Merger & Acquisition
      • Performance Management & Productivity
      • Talent Management
      • Tools & Technology
      • Work-Life Balance
    • Special
      • Cover Story
      • Editorial
      • HR Forecast 2024
      • HR Forecast 2023
      • HR Forecast 2022
      • HR Forecast 2021
      • HR Forecast 2020
      • HR Forecast 2019
      • New Age Learning
      • Coaching and Training
      • Learn-Engage-Transform
    • Magazine
    • Reports
      • Whitepaper
        • HR Forecast 2024 e-mag
        • Future-proofing Manufacturing Through Digital Transformation
        • Employee Healthcare & Wellness Benefits: A Guide for Indian MSMEs
        • Build a Future Ready Organisation For The Road Ahead
        • Employee Experience Strategy
        • HRKatha 2019 Forecast
        • Decoding and Driving Employee Engagement
        • One Platform, Infinite Possibilities
      • Survey Reports
        • Happiness at Work
        • Upskilling for Jobs of the Future
        • The Labour Code 2020
    • Conferences
      • Rising Star Leadership Awards
      • HRKatha Futurecast
      • Automation.NXT
      • The Great HR Debate
    • HR Jobs
    WhatsApp LinkedIn X (Twitter) Facebook Instagram
    HR KathaHR Katha
    Home»Exclusive Features»How viable is Amazon’s 30-hr work week?
    Exclusive Features

    How viable is Amazon’s 30-hr work week?

    mmBy Prajjal Saha | HRKathaSeptember 1, 20164 Mins Read1719 Views
    Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    Share
    LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

    Will this remain just a pilot initiative or does it have the potential to scale up?

    This week, Amazon announced its plans to launch a pilot programme, for a few select techies with a 30-hour work week. A few teams comprising only such employees who opt for this arrangement, including managers, will be allowed to work from Monday through Thursday, from 10 am to 2 pm. They will also log additional hours on a flexible basis, but at a salary of only 75 per cent of what a normal 40-hour work week employee would get. However, they will receive benefits at par with a normal full time worker.

    Many companies have a fleet of part timers, but they are all members of the regular team — there is a mix of full timers and part timers. What differentiates Amazon’s programme is that here the entire team will be of such part-timers.

    Jeffrey P. Bezos, CEO, Amazon, says in an official statement, “We want to create a work environment that is tailored to a reduced schedule and still fosters success and career growth.”

    Rajesh Padmanabhan

    How viable is this programme? Will this remain just a pilot initiative or does it have the potential to scale up? Last month, Sweden also announced the move towards a standard six-hour workday, with businesses across the country implementing the change.

    It’s certain, that such programmes, if implemented across the organisation, can help increase diversity and retain talent.

    Amazon’s initiative seems like a smart idea because it’s a team of techies, which has a lower percentage of women employees. This implies that such teams can attract more women talent and enhance diversity. Overall, only 39 per cent of Amazon’s workforce consists of women.

    However, can such teams be exclusively women teams? Or can this be extended to other functions as well? Who will opt for such programmes? Will they be treated at par with the normal employee when it comes to appraisal and increment? Many of these questions need to be answered.

    Rajesh Padmanabhan, director & group CHRO, Welspun Group, opines, “Work–life balance, across the world, will get redefined due to three reasons — people seeking more personal time, reduction in enterprise lives and increase in digitalisation and automation in every area. All three factors are increasing in momentum in every industry.”

    “With people pursuing more of life and purpose than work and career, and with workplaces demanding multiple approaches of workforce segmentation — both from enterprise risk and long-term sustainability — I think the model is here to stay,” he adds.

    The penetration will be higher in the Western world for now. This flexible approach could be a win-win proposition for all and more hybrid workforce models will emerge in times to come.

    Pradeep Mukerjee

    Pradeep Mukerjee, founder and director of Confluence Coaching & Consulting, says, “In markets, such as the US and Europe, there are many people who will be willing to take a pay cut for reduced work hours as it will allow them to pursue other interests as well, unlike in India.”

    “In advanced economies, the basic needs are taken care of quite easily and there is not much of a difference between a person earning $100,000 and another earning $15,000. On the other hand, in India, people really struggle to meet the basic requirements and a 25 per cent pay cut makes a lot of impact,” he explains.

    However, in the Indian scenario, it could work wonders for women who are forced to take a sabbatical. The fact is that even after the mandatory maternity leaves, which has now been extended to six months, many mothers are forced to call it quits or take a break due to family needs.

    In such a scenario, if a woman is allowed to continue her job with uber-flexible schedules and the promise that they will be judged at par with other fulltime employees in terms of appraisal and promotions, such programmes can work wonders.

    Then will the rest of the teams feel resentful about those who work less? Quite a catch-22 situation.

    Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    mm
    Prajjal Saha | HRKatha

    Dr. Prajjal Saha, editor and publisher of HRKatha since 2015, leverages over 25 years of experience in business journalism, writing, and editing. He founded HRKatha to provide insightful analysis on the evolving workplace. With expertise spanning HR, marketing, distribution, and technology, Saha has a deep understanding of business dynamics. His authorship of the acclaimed Marketing White Book highlights his versatility beyond HR. A trusted voice across industries, his clear and thoughtful commentary has earned him a reputation for thought leadership, making him a reliable source of knowledge and insights for professionals navigating the complexities of the business world.

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    17 − 10 =

    Related Posts

    How a thumbs-up became a generational minefield

    July 11, 2025

    Why HR must unite hiring and development to survive

    July 10, 2025

    The 5-to-9 Trap: Is Gen Z’s quest for perfect evenings fuelling a new burnout?

    July 9, 2025

    How AI is creating a workforce of the mentally walking dead

    July 8, 2025

    QUICK HR INSIGHTS

    EDITOR'S PICKS

    How a thumbs-up became a generational minefield

    July 11, 2025

    Why HR must unite hiring and development to survive

    July 10, 2025

    The 5-to-9 Trap: Is Gen Z’s quest for perfect evenings fuelling a new burnout?

    July 9, 2025

    How AI is creating a workforce of the mentally walking dead

    July 8, 2025
    Latest Post

    Telstra to cut 550 jobs in latest phase of overhaul

    News July 11, 2025

    Telstra, the Australian telecommunications provider, has announced plans to reduce its workforce by 550 employees…

    Internal criticism hits Meta’s AI division amid growing discontent

    News July 11, 2025

    Meta’s artificial intelligence ( AI) division is facing fresh internal criticism as concerns about its…

    NASA to lose over 2,000 senior employees amid budget restructuring

    Global HR News July 11, 2025

    In a significant shake-up at the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), over 2,100…

    Boss allegedly targets employee for using ‘open to work’ tag on LinkedIn

    News July 11, 2025

    A workplace incident has sparked conversation on Reddit after an Indian employee claimed they were…

    Asia's No.1 HR Platform

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn WhatsApp Bluesky
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Career
    • Reach Us
    • Exclusive Features
    • Cover Story
    • Editorial
    • Dive into the Future of Work: Download HRForecast 2024 Now!
    © 2025 HRKatha.com
    • Disclaimer
    • Refunds & Cancellation Policy
    • Terms of Service

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.