Shorter days, longer careers
Shorter days and longer careers may lead to more leisure time and a healthier old age, a Danish professor claims. Professor James Vaupel of the University of Southern Denmark believes no one should work more than 25 hours per week, but that we should keep working until the age of 80.
Shorter days and longer careers may lead to more leisure time and a healthier old age, a Danish professor claims.
Professor James Vaupel of the University of Southern Denmark believes no one should work more than 25 hours per week, but that we should keep working until the age of 80.
“We’re getting older and older here in Denmark. Kids who are 10 years old today should be able to work until the age of 80,” Professor Vaupel told website Science Nordic.
“In return, they won’t need to work more than 25 hours per week when they become adults.”
Professor Vaupel, a leading scientist in ageing research at the University of Southern Denmark, suggested that what is important is that people put in a certain amount of work, not that they work at a specific point in life.
Shorter working weeks, Professor Vaupel argues, would give young people more time to care for their families, exercise and lead healthier lives.
“The way it is today, young people are slaving their way through work, looking forward to a long retirement,” Professor Vaupel explains. “But why not move that retirement period around a bit so that young people get more valuable time off work?”
He argues parttime work later in life would improve the general health of the elderly.
“The benefits are not just psychological because being an active part of society makes people feel good about themselves, but also physically, since you use both your brain and your body when you’re working.
“We know that elderly people are prepared to continue working if they’re capable of doing so,” he says. “And I’m guessing young people would prefer to work less while they’re young if they have the option of working more when they get older.”
