16.4 billion Danish kroner each year. This is what stress costs Danish companies, according to a study from the National Research Center for the Working Environment. And work-related stress costs society around DKK 27 billion Danish kroner per year. But if companies strengthen their insight into employees’ working hours, including absences, breaks and rest time, it becomes easier to spot negative patterns and handle stress in time.
2023 has set a negative record for stress and work-related well-being problems, but the large pension companies in Denmark predict that 2024 will be an even more stressful year. Therefore, in this article we focus on how the new EU law on working time registration, which is expected to enter into force on 1 July 2024, can be seen as an important step towards more transparency in employees’ actual daily working hours, which can provide the right knowledge base in relation to preventing stress and maintaining a good work/life balance for employees. Here are some ways the law can have a positive impact:
Clearer boundaries between work and leisure time
The Working Time Registration Act can help establish clear boundaries between work and leisure by ensuring that employees do not exceed maximum working hours and get adequate rest between work periods. This can reduce the risk of burnout and working overtime.
Continued possibility of flexible working life
Some may fear that the new registration requirement will limit employee flexibility, but this does not have to be the case. Because when the employee achieves a greater overview of their tasks and deadlines – including their planned work and the hours they have actually worked – via the system, it will also give them the opportunity to better organize when to work, as well as when they are entitled to take time off. If you prefer a more flexible everyday life, where you e.g. can pick up your children early and work a few hours in the evening, this is still an option, as long as you stay within the framework and the deadlines you have been given.
Higher awareness of working time standards
The law can increase employees’ awareness of their rights and working time standards. This can give them more confidence to enforce the rules and talk to the employer about any violations, which can help prevent dissatisfaction.
Prevention of unhealthy work habits
Time registration can help identify patterns of overtime or irregular working hours, which can be harmful to employees’ health. By preventing these unhealthy work habits, the law can contribute to promoting well-being and health in the workplace.
It is important to note that the implementation of the law and its effect depends on how it is implemented and enforced at the national level, which will be clarified January 23, 2024. However, regardless of how it is designed, companies will be able to benefit from a system, which provides reliable data insight into employees’ working time, breaks and rest time, so that administrators can both optimize working time planning and track any unhealthy patterns.
Get the optimal data insight with Intempus and Power BI
With Intempus’ time registration, it is easy for employees to report their daily work, after which the data is collected in the administration system. From here, the administrator can check the data, correct and approve it. If you choose to integrate Intempus to Microsoft Power BI, the data will then automatically be transferred to the Power BI module for visualization, analysis and reporting. This gives you optimal data insight into the employees’ work patterns and at the same time you can ensure that you comply with EU’s rules on working time, rest time and breaks, including the 11-hour rule and the 48-hour rule.
Interested in hearing more about Intempus? Dont hesitate to call us on +45 26 390 400, or book a non-binding demo:
Sources: Borsen.dk, Jyllands-posten.dk, Finanswatch.dk
