WHY

There are many WHYs for the Akademie für Arbeitslust, depending on the perspective one wants to take.

The WHY that concerns all

According to Statistik Austria, in 2017, the average Austrian working person spent around 37 hours a week at work; that is 1,739 hours per year (5 weeks holiday deducted) and 69,560 hours in 40 years. In 40 years, this adds up to about 8 years of life. It is also about one third of our awake time. We can decide ourselves how we would like to use this time: do we want to sit through this time in order to live later on (if we still have the strength to do so) or do we want to take advantage of it and feel fully alive right here and now?

The economic WHY

To sum it up in one sentence: A listless, stressed, emotionally suppressed, distracted, conflict-seeking employee certainly is less productive than a joyful, motivated, focused, emotionally present employee who is open to discussion and cooperation. Here are some supporting facts and figures:

• People who perceive their work as purposeful are more motivated and deliver better results: A study by Adam Grant of Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania shows how purpose can more than double an individual’s motivation and work results.
• People who are mindful and focused at work can double their effective working time within the same attendance time: A study by Kollingsworth (2000) shows that during 47% of our working hours, we are lost in thought rather than focused on our work. Mindfulness and emotional self-management help maintain focus.
• Respectful communication, a good team atmosphere and a constructive approach to conflicts can save companies considerable costs: According to the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), the economy loses 5 to 9% of efficient working time due to socially inappropriate communication among employees. In other words, entrepreneurs lose between 23 and 44 minutes of potential working time per employee per day. The WKÖ also estimates the follow-up costs of conflicts in small and medium-sized enterprises at 19% of the total costs of a company in 2006. In order to counteract this, they recommend strengthening the team spirit, trust and the ability to cooperate as well as improving the conflict culture in businesses.
• Stress is expensive. Mindfulness, satisfaction and the ability to work in a team can considerably reduce stress and stress-related absenteeism: 39% of all Austrians feel seriously affected by stress at work. According to a study carried out by Allianz Insurance in 2017, 23% are at risk for burn-out. 59% of the interviewees consider an increased ability to work in a team to be effective or even very effective in reducing stress. Mindfulness at work has been shown to reduce the risk of burn-out and illness-related absences (Purps-Pardigol, 2015).