5-Day Work Week in Bihar

by Padmaja

Oct. 30, 2006

News from Bihar is very encouraging these days. Even if the State achieves 2% of the aimed development, it will be a commendable effort. So in that vein, I read with some interest the 5 day work week for State Government employees. It is a good move because with changing family structures where we have more nuclear families and both parents work in some capacity, more than a Sunday is required to attend to other responsibilities within one's life. It will save on traffic congestion, electricity etc. and give the much-needed rest to the employees to recharge and get ready for the next week. However, such a decision should be taken with extreme caution given that there are quite a few holidays anyway in addition to casual leave etc..

The Government will definitely need to ensure that 5 day week is when everyone turns up on time and do what one is supposed to do and don't take long lunch breaks, tea breaks and paan breaks. It will be really important to ensure that performance of the employees improves with performance reports - lessening of one day should not mean less work - just should mean more efficiency. This will require an attitudinal change and this message must be conveyed in clear terms - should not be seen as another day of no work otherwise people who already face immense angst when dealing with bureaucrats, five day rule may add nothing except increase this for the hapless common man by delaying the processes as the Chief Minster would have understood by now after this janata durbar that he holds. Wonder if people have realised if the red tapism is reduced and the bureaucrats do more in a day, in fact just do what they are supposed to do, we will not have such jostling and pushing and angry outbursts at the CM's durbar and he can usefully dedicate his time and resources to think and implement big picture items for the welfare of the State.

Just a thought.

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