PETALING JAYA: A four-day work week would lead to greater productivity and allow people to have a better work-life balance, say working Malaysians.

       M. Subrananthini, 36, said this would be especially so for working parents.

       “A shorter work week would allow working parents to spend quality time with their children.

       “I think the main thing is to work productively and finish all your work in four days,” the financial consultant and mother of two young children said in an interview.

       Subrananthini said a four-day work week was also healthy for the nation’s economy as people would look forward to a longer weekend to travel.

       This would in return boost domestic tourism, food and retail, she added.

       Azizul Ahmad agreed that a four-day work week would lead to a healthier work-life balance.

       “Many people think that if someone is working long hours that means the person is hardworking.

       “However, fewer hours doesn’t mean less work output. In a day, we are at work for eight hours, but I believe people are only productive for a short amount of time, when they actually focus on their work.

       “For the balance, they are probably just killing time on social media sites,” said the 39-year-old human resource executive.

       Azizul said he believes fewer working hours would lead to people being more focused and much more productive.

       A graphic designer, who only wanted to be known as Lim, said she would be much more productive in four days rather than five working days.

       “Currently, in my line of work, on Fridays, I would already slack off, unless there is something really urgent, then I would focus.

       “But most of the time, I don’t do much. I think it is better to just focus on really doing work for four days and have a fifth day off since no one really works on that day,” said the 28-year-old.