How reduced working hours impact morale and productivity of employees in government organizations : a case from Male', Maldives / Aminath Mihna Haleem

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore how shorter working hours impact morale and productivity of the employees in context with Maldivian government organizations. Working hours of civil servants were reduced 3 times by the government of Maldives in past decade. Currently the working hour for civil servants is 6 hours. This study includes insightful information from the perspective of 8 executive and managerial employees from 4 different organizations including independent organizations. The nature of this study is qualitative and will focus on key findings such as describing morale and productivity, its factors and how the employees' morale and productivity were affected by shorter working hours. The value of this paper is to provide evidence that morale and productivity of the employees have been affected by the changes in working hours. Further, it includes key points on how to improve labor productivity and achieve high morale in the workplace.