The Clock We All Share: How Working Hours Shape Our Lives

Public policy often feels distant—a maze of jargon and numbers. But sometimes, it touches something universal: time. The recent report on working hours by the EAC-PM isn’t just about labor laws or productivity metrics. It’s about the rhythm of our days, the moments we lose or gain, and the invisible threads connecting policy to our kitchens, commutes, and coffee breaks. Let’s unpack why this matters to you.

The Hidden Clockwork of Daily Life

Imagine your typical weekday. The alarm rings. You rush to beat traffic. Skip breakfast. Juggle deadlines. Finally, you collapse on the couch, too tired to call a friend or read to your kids. Now imagine a different rhythm: flexible hours letting you avoid rush hour, or paid parental leave giving you months (not days) to bond with a newborn. These aren’t small tweaks. They’re policy choices—ones that shape how we live, work, and care for one another.

The report reveals a stark reality: India’s formal workforce averages 48–54 hours a week, exceeding the International Labour Organization’s 40-hour threshold. But this isn’t just about “overwork.” It’s about what those hours cost. For instance:

1 in 3 urban workers spends over 90 minutes commuting daily, worsening fatigue.        

68% of women in formal jobs report quitting due to inflexible hours, per the report.        

Why Should We Care?

1. Health Isn’t Just a Personal Choice Long hours correlate with heart disease, anxiety, and burnout. The report finds that workers exceeding 50 hours/week face a 30% higher risk of hypertension. When policies ignore this, public health systems bear the burden. Your insurance premiums? They’re shaped by these choices.
2. The Economy Isn’t Just GDP Productivity declines after 50 hours a week. Yet, many workplaces equate “hours logged” with “value created.” The report estimates that overwork costs India’s economy ?1.2 lakh crore annually in lost productivity and healthcare. This isn’t sustainable.
3. Gender Equality Hinges on Time Women spend 5.2 hours daily on unpaid care work—cooking, cleaning, childcare—compared to men’s 0.8 hours. Inflexible schedules push many out of formal jobs. Equal pay debates mean little if women can’t stay in the workforce.

The Ripple Effects

Policy isn’t a solo act. It’s a domino chain:

• Commute Times: Staggered working hours could cut traffic by 20%, reducing pollution and stress. Bengaluru’s 2024 pilot project on flexi-hours saw 15% fewer peak-hour vehicles on roads.
• Childcare: Only 12% of Indian employers offer daycare, forcing parents—mostly mothers—to choose between careers and care.
• Rural vs. Urban: Migrant workers in cities often face 12-hour shifts with no overtime pay. Their exhaustion fuels urban growth but drains rural communities.

Real-life example: A mother in Mumbai switched to a 4-day workweek under her company’s new policy. She gained time to care for her aging father. Her employer saw no drop in output—a win-win echoed in the report’s case studies.

What Comes Next?

The report isn’t a verdict. It’s a starting point. Here’s where we step in:

1. Demand Dialogue: Policies need input from workers, employers, and families. For example, Kerala’s 8-hour factory shift pilot reduced workplace accidents by 15% after workers’ feedback.
2. Rethink Flexibility: Germany’s Kurzarbeit policy (short-time work) saved jobs during crises by subsidizing shorter hours. India could adapt this to protect livelihoods without burnout.
3. Measure What Matters: Track well-being, not just work hours. Are people exercising? Volunteering? Sleeping 7 hours? Tamil Nadu’s recent “Well-being Index” initiative, cited in the report, links policy outcomes to citizen happiness.

The Bigger Picture

Time is our most democratic resource—everyone gets 24 hours. But how we distribute it reflects our values. A policy that prioritizes well-being over mere economic output isn’t “soft.” It’s smart. It’s humane.

Next time you’re stuck in traffic or miss a family dinner, remember: these aren’t personal failures. They’re policy puzzles waiting to be solved. And the first step is seeing the dots—between clock-in times and mental health, between shift schedules and smog—then daring to connect them.

Inspired by the EAC-PM’s 2025 report on working hours, this article reflects the interplay of policy and lived experience. Have thoughts? Write to me—policy grows better when we grow it together.