Aligning work and school hours could increase productivity, efficiency, and allow for more quality family time, according to a workplace advocate.
Author Ellen Joan Ford joined Breakfast this morning to discuss the idea outlined in her new book titled #WorkSchoolHours.
Under the proposal, employees would work the hours of 9am-3pm as opposed to the traditional 9am-5pm workday.
However, Ford said this was not as "dogmatic" as the whole world working between the hours of 9am and 3pm, rather about applying flexibility where practical and focusing more on outputs over hours.
"We don't want our hospitals to close after three o'clock."
She said employees are paid based on what they can deliver and that she doesn't see "any reason for them to get their pay cut for being more efficient" if they can achieve it in a shorter amount of time.
Potential benefits to organisations are an increase in productivity, staff wellbeing and engagement, she said.
"More engaged people are more productive and they are more effective for the organisation."
Ford said there there could be increased quality family time when parents and kids finish work and school simultaneously – and added it wasn't just parents who would benefit.
"This is for anyone who has anything they care about outside of work, which is every human, it's not just a thing for parents."
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