South Korea Govt To Shut Down All Computers At 7 PM Sharp To Curb Employee Overtime

Working overtime has become some sort of a norm for millennials. Gone are the 9-5 workdays of our parents and grandparents. Working late has now become a sign of efficiency, a way to prove to one’s superiors that you’re serious about your work.

Alas, this callous attitude towards work and overtime has many side-effects that manifest in the later stages. But not anymore. At least, not for South Korea, if the government has its way.

The Government of South Korea has put forth a new initiative that will ensure all its employees in the capital of Seoul leave work on time—power down all their computers at 8 pm sharp on Fridays!

South Korea has some of the longest working hours in the world.

So the local government in Seoul is introducing a new initiative: to force employees to leave work on time – by powering down their computers at 20:00 on Fridays. https://t.co/shQ85xbnUw

— BBC Asia (@BBCNewsAsia) March 23, 2018

Isn’t that amazing coming from the government?

This move by the Seoul Metropolitan Government is meant to stop a “culture of working overtime” amongst the country’s employees. And God knows they need it!

According to OECD, South Korea has the third longest working hours in the world!

South Korea’s economic growth is testament to the long working hours of its working class.

Did you know that South Korea’s government employees work an average of 2,739 hours a year, about 1,000 hours more than workers in other developed countries?

Though the laws lay down a statutory work week of 40 hours, with 12 hours of paid overtime, employees are known to flout the rules blatantly and work extra. Which is why, this move was the need of the hour to ensure a good work-life balance.

This isn’t the first such effort made by the government. Earlier this month, South Korea’s national assembly passed a law to cut down the maximum weekly working hours to 52, down from 68.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is poised to roll out the mandatory shutdown initiative  across three phases over the next three months.

The first phase begins on 30 March, wherein all the computers will be switched off by 8 pm.

The second phase starts in April, and will require all the employees to turn off their computers 7.30 pm on the second and fourth Fridays.

And finally from May onwards, a 7 pm shutdown will occur every Friday.

But remember, I told you, there’s a twist! Well, here goes.

Surprisingly, not every government official is ecstatic about this news! A shocking 67.1% of the the workforce has requested to be exempted for this mandatory shutdown!

Apparently, the country’s night culture further encourages the notion of working late and people are willing to put in those long hours if it means they can do things at their pace.

Twitter’s reaction to this news, as expected, has been rather envious to say the least. Though everyone agrees that this is a much needed reform.

Cue in the “Let’s move to South Korea” tweets!

1. Millennials are plagued by burnouts very early in their careers, owing to long and stressful work hours.

Excellent news. Much needed effort to prevent #Burnout and #TechnoStress. 52 hours per week is still too much but it's still better than previous 68 hour average. #SouthKorea to shut off computers to stop people working late https://t.co/kWVbo2mTTI

— Pav Akhtar (own views, etc) (@pav_akhtar) March 22, 2018

2. What! Do employees really have life outside of work? Do bosses know that shit?

Choosing 'life' over work….

A good initiative by #SouthKorean govt. Recognising the fact that Corporate ppl hv a life outside work https://t.co/i4g0w3iiWD

— S. Upmanyu 🇮🇳 (@SUp_man_yu) March 24, 2018

3. Should definitely help cut down that high suicide rate….

This is so good, South Koreans work themselves to depression, which is why they have the highest rate of suicide https://t.co/7tmtuQBRsK

— CRMC#484 (@Chrimace) March 23, 2018

4. That’s horrible!

When I visited South Korea, people regularly went out for dinner with colleagues and then returned to work in the office till 11pm. They only really saw their families at weekends. https://t.co/nkGL1gSPRa

— Toby Maxwell-Lyte (@tobylyte) March 23, 2018

Many people cracked the same joke about the biggest glitch in the forceful shutting down of computers and it’s so relatable!

They better autosave!

1. OMG! This is so gonna happen!

https://twitter.com/LuciaKu1/status/977259201318866944

2. Yep, that would be a lot of us! DEAD!

This is my nightmare: I'd have 30 documents open and wouldn't have hit save since Tuesday. https://t.co/EPbK6UKmVk

— Melissa (@OneFabulousFan) March 23, 2018

Many voiced their concerns about the initiative, wondering if an alternate approach would be better.

Is this some way of controlling citizen’s lives?

1. Good or bad in the big picture?

Super interesting concept but none the less a government controlling it's citizens. Good or bad thing?

— Anthony Smith (@TheeAnthonyS) March 23, 2018

2. Could this backfire and cause more stress to finish work on time?

They should turn become a government employee. Now what this causes is more added stress to get the same amount of work done, in less time. The government should know better then anyone that people don't work that way. Some people want to work more, naturally productive, evolve. pic.twitter.com/9yyngkuOrr

— D. Ildo (@Mr_Schwul) March 23, 2018

3. Just an idea?

Or you could start valuing them as hard-working people that also need time off? Just an idea. https://t.co/uSOHcNy15R

— A very exhausted Chemist. (@HRHChemist) March 24, 2018

Of course, people were quite shocked how 67% were interested in working overtime and said “No, thank you” to the shutdown.

Kaun hain yeh log? Kahan se aate hain yeh?

1. But why?

Rather interesting to note that over half the employees have asked to be exempt from the initiative. https://t.co/3YMoHnNfPQ

— Cheryl (@Cherylfornia) March 24, 2018

2. Please, people of Seoul. Say no!

67% want an exemption. Over working and over working the wrong way. This is a radical step, but necessary. A myriad of reasons they do this, I'm sure – but one mustn't become so dependent on this behavior. It's okay to say, "No." https://t.co/CBt1DJEXTo

— Lucas Hughes ن (@_lrhughes) March 24, 2018

And then came this guy with a rather philosophical suggestion for the rest of humanity who, as we know, could also benefit for a shutdown…

South Korea forces Gov employees to shut off their computers to avoid working too much. Here’s a thought, what if we were forced to shut off our smartphones and started paying more attention to our inner selves and to those closest to us? https://t.co/GvRWTsnVII

— Mark Junkans (@mjunkans) March 23, 2018

Good luck to South Korea for this one! We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you.

Oh, but like, after 7 pm, when our shift ends. On paper! *wink*