Hours in isn't value out.
Economist John Pencavel's 2014 study of historical munitions workers found output per hour dropping once weeks went past about 50 hours. Those working 70 hours produced little more than those working 56. More hours bought little extra.
Short bursts
Can Work
- A few days, for a real reason
- Chosen, not expected
- Followed by time back
Sustained overtime
Backfires
- Output per hour falls
- Tired minds make more mistakes
- Rework eats the “gain”
Hidden costs
Not On The Timesheet
- Errors and escaped bugs
- Lost learning and slack
- Attrition and quiet quitting
Source: IZA Institute of Labor Economics ↗
Hours in isn't value out.