The productive 8-hour workday is a myth, and we need to stop believing it

The useful part

We have a million "urgent" things vying for our attention: constant notifications, an incessant stream of emails, and endless meetings. Throw AI into the mix, and the expectation is we should be increasing our output even further. All this work hides a bigger question: how much of this is meaningful work?

How it works

• The truth is, not all tasks are necessary or productive, yet the eight-hour workday rewards the amount of time you spend at your desk and the visibility that comes with it.
• Our productivity obsession is making us less productive The data helps clarify things.
• In 2023, GDP per hour worked declined by 3.6%, one of the sharpest drops on record.
• In an environment with fraught job security, many of us feel a fair amount of pressure to look, and be, busy.
• According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, labor productivity decreased by 0.2% in 2024-25.

What to take from it

Productivity growth remains well below the long-term average. Internationally, you see this problem across a range of countries. <a href="https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-compendium-of-productivity-indicators-2026_734a5e68-en/full-report/labour-productivity-in-oecd-economies-recent-trends-and-shifting-drivers-of-growth_cd896487.html" ta...