We asked readers if a 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.office should be shut down compulsorily at 7 p.m., and employees be asked to leave by that time. A majority of responses are in favour of the move, but there are other voices too. Edited excerpts:

Will lead to quality work

Shutting down at 7 p.m. will not only force people to close on time, but also to complete their work faster and efficiently. The human brain cannot work for more than five hours. We must look to differentiate between work and quality work by using the best hours of active brain.

— Vinay Singhal, Siemens, Gurgaon.

Keep it flexi

Gone are the days when hard work guaranteed success. Today hard work combined with smart work is the recipe for success. Which means we need to work when our mind can deliver its best, and hence, time cannot be a constraint. We need to identify our most productive hours and make use of them in the best possible way. For some, this could be before 9 a.m., and for others after 7 p.m.

— Leo Ananth J, eQuadriga Software, Trichy

Measure work with fixed timings

Effecting a strict policy of on-time shut down would give the management an opportunity to review the variation in output and determine if there is any decrease in productivity and, accordingly, modify organisational policies. In many cases, ‘working' (for the record only) late hours soon becomes part of the company culture, and bosses start expecting all employees to put in extra hours. People leaving on time are labelled as work-shirkers. To ensure that employees enjoy a conducive work-life balance, a clear directive should be passed to not put in extra time ‘unless needed'. People who stay back late regularly don't know how to manage their time.

— Sandeep Agarwal, GVK Power & Infrastructure, Secunderabad

A test of one's time management

To leave office early, one should master time management and planning. One should demonstrate maximum efficiency and productivity in the stipulated eight hours. ‘Never eat more than you can chew' is an apt rule to follow when you plan your day and prioritise tasks. Work from home should be allowed if some urgent task has to be completed. So a forced shut down would be good for all. The mantra of life should be: work to live, not live to work.

— Radhika Nair, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Kochi

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