First Samsung in South Korea announced it was shifting to emergency mode, and that all its executives would be required to work six days a week to “inject a sense of crisis and make all-out efforts to overcome it.”

Now, the news that Greece has introduced a six-day work week from July 1 has stuck fear into the hearts of workers. Where other countries are embracing the idea of a four-day work week or offering additional flexibility to workers, Greek authorities are bucking the trend, and hoping to boost the nation’s economy via more hours of work.

Thankfully, the move isn’t mandatory. Instead, it is optional and people can work 48 hours instead of 40 hours, plus it is also only for businesses that operate on a 24-hour basis.

If Greek workers do opt in, they can either work an extra two hours a day or take on an extra eight-hour shift––and they’ll be paid 40% extra for that additional time.

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This is just one of the ways that employees are splicing and dicing their working hours post-pandemic, when the realisation bit deep that work doesn’t always have to be an office-based, regimented nine to five in order to get the job done.

You may already be familiar with the TikTok trend of “5 to 9”, which is an over-achievers dream scenario. It’s all about getting up with the dawn chorus to maximise your day before you even open your laptop. Practitioners may exercise, do a daily journal or affirmations, clean and do laundry, listen to work-related podcasts––or simply tell LinkedIn just how productive they’re being.

And while countries such as France have a set-in-stone 35-hour working week, another worrying turbo-charged productivity trend is emerging.

Watercooler company Bevi compared usage of water dispenser machines in offices this year compared to 2019. “A greater portion of in-office hours now take place before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. than before the pandemic,” it said in a report.

The company is calling this 7-to-7. In addition to a 25% increase in workers starting work at 7am, new data shows that at 7pm, in-office attendance is significantly higher than before the Covid-19 crisis.

One explanation for this is that workers may be coming in earlier or leaving later to avoid rush hour, and Bevi’s data also shows that most workers are coming into the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (68%), with Thursdays coming in at 66%.

While global data indicates that working hours have actually decreased dramatically over the last 150 years, many UK employees are finding that they’re doing more than ever.

For some workers, longer hours are a result of compensating for colleagues who have either been made redundant or who have simply left their jobs, and haven’t been replaced. Others are contending with so many other work-related activities such as reports, meetings and general admin, that finding time to do their actual work is proving difficult.

As a result, they might clock in early to get a headstart on their tasks for the day before the rest of the team starts work––and the questions and interruptions that are such a part of working life begin.

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Staying late can also seem like a bit of a hack if you’re behind. It’s quieter, and you can put your head down and concentrate. But this isn’t as good as it seems. Data shows that 92% of UK employees admit to experiencing burnout or stress in the workplace during their careers, and overwork is a key factor in feeling burned out.

While most employees recognise that on occasion, putting in a candlelight shift is going to be required––at a project end for example––working this way on a daily basis isn’t great for your mental or physical health, or your actual work output.

If you’re finding that your job requires a lot more time and effort out of hours than you’d like, asking for a chat with your manager to explain the full scope of your tasks is a great first step.

And if they’re not receptive to making a positive change, it could be the right time to look for a new role where your time and efforts are properly valued.

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