Extended Exec Hours: Samsung’s Risky Business Bet
By Kraig Kleeman
Introduction
Samsung has made a decision that surprised many people, which is now asking their higher-level managers to come to work for six days each week. This choice goes against the common direction now where companies, both large and small, are trying out or even completely switching to four-day work weeks. Being someone who plays a big role in developing new ways of working today, I am keen to join this conversation.
Why This Matters
Only last month, a study by LHH revealed something surprising: more than half of the top managers think they are almost at their limit because they have too much work, and many of them are thinking about changing jobs to get away from the constant pressure. Therefore, hearing that Samsung has introduced a six-day working week was quite shocking to me. Does putting more tasks on someone’s schedule really help to enhance the company’s profits? Let us analyze this concept.
The Mental Cost of More Hours
We should have a conversation about mental health. It is understood that rest is not only something extra, it is something essential. Not taking enough rest can cause a lot of stress, worry, and sometimes depression. Think about these high-level managers who are close to burning out; now they have even less time for relaxation. In my experience, when I have worked very hard for a long period, it was not that I got more work done; rather, I just drank more coffee.
Burnout and Brain Drain
Burnout is not simply about being fatigued. It’s a profound, overwhelming exhaustion that undermines your capacity to find worth in what you do professionally. Making the workweek longer might cause these very busy leaders to reach their limit, which could make them more likely to quit. When many people leave a company, particularly those in high positions, it can really disrupt the business. It disrupts everything from team dynamics to strategic planning.
Is More Really More?
The belief appears to be that if you work more hours, your production will increase. But this is not always the case. There comes a moment when spending additional time only leads to diminishing outcomes—increasing mistakes, reduced creativity, and honestly, much unnecessary wasted hours. Here is the potential turning point where Samsung’s approach could possibly fail, pushing their financial targets even more distant.
What Could Work Better?
It is not about doing more work, it is about being clever in how you work. A lot of businesses are discovering that having less but concentrated time for working can really increase efficiency.
Quality Over Quantity
We should target to do work that is more focused on the effect rather than the number of hours worked. The companies I respect utilize short, intense periods of working which enable thorough focus on important jobs. When you work, you give it your full attention, and when it is time to rest, you completely disconnect from work.
Flexibility Wins
Allowing individuals to decide their own work schedules and methods can result in remarkable increases in productivity and happiness at the job. This is something I have observed directly within my team. After we introduced more adaptable working hours, the mood got better and also our results improved.
Wrapping It Up
Samsung’s recent policy of a six-day workweek certainly goes against what is common. The aim is to improve productivity and the company’s financial situation, but it might harm the health of its managers, with possible effects spreading across all areas of the business.
In the management of workplaces, it is necessary to make courageous decisions along with intelligent and well-thought-out ones. Businesses do well when their workers are not only there but also involved, in good health, and have a balanced life. While we move through these times of change, let’s remember the most important sign of a company’s strength is usually how well its employees are doing. Perhaps Samsung should consider not only the number of hours its leaders work but also how productive those hours are. After all, a rested mind is a sharp mind.
About Kraig Kleeman
Kraig Kleeman is a highly successful entrepreneur, author, and showrunner. If his accomplishments and aspirations were to draw inspiration from natural icons, he could be described as a fusion of Elon Musk’s visionary approach to business and Mick Jagger’s electrifying stage presence. He possesses keen business acumen and a flair for captivating performances that awe audiences.
Kraig’s entrepreneurial spirit is boundless, as evidenced by his track record of founding a tech company and taking it from nothing to $30 million in sales, in less than four years. His newest venture, CEO Branding Worldwide, is growing by triple digits, quarter over quarter. While some may liken his abilities to a Midas touch, others prefer to think of it as transforming companies into profitable ventures instead of turning things into gold!
