It’s becoming more common for employers to shift out of an 8-hour working day, and into a more sustainable way of working that is conducive to improved productivity. Many studies have been investigating the concept of shorter working weeks with fewer hours on an average day. One study revealed that employees would be able to get their work completed in 5 hours if they were to stay focused. Additionally, 3 out of 4 employees, if they were given the option would choose to work 4 days or less per week. There is a proliferation in discourse for fewer working hours. Furthermore, the concept of working fewer hours is coupled with the desire for more deep learning. Never heard of deep learning before? Read on to find out how this new concept can transform your business and your employees working lives for the better.
Deep Learning Definition
Deep learning is defined as employees’ ability to focus on demanding tasks for long periods of time without getting distracted. By practicing deep learning, employees develop their ability to better understand complex information and therefore produce better work. Making working an 8 hour day unnecessary. According to Machine Learning Mastery, ”Deep Learning is a subfield of machine learning concerned with algorithms inspired by the structure and function of the brain called artificial neural networks.”
Deep Learning and Neural Networks
How do these two intertwine? Well, to put it simply, there are many deep learning models, but the one thing they all have in common is that they observe the way our brain builds new neural pathways. These strong neural networks are one form of deep learning application that we as humans have access to. As science expands more to research the link between neural networks, how they’re formed, and in which ways they help facilitate deep learning, businesses are becoming more and more curious. Any way to increase workplace productivity is a hot topic these days, especially since on site employees having shifted into remote workers.Â
Inspires creativity
Creativity is heavily correlated with the concept of deep learning. Creative thinking encourages and nurtures deep learning. Work these days requires far more creativity, innovation and flexibility. In a report conducted by McKinsey and Company, the demand for skills such as creativity is on a constant trajectory of growth and set to increase by 10% in 2030. Furthermore, another report published by McKinsey and Company revealed that when people are in a creative flow, they are 500% more productive. This is why it is not only important to encourage deep learning, but also to promote creative thinking. This can be done by removing mundane admin tasks from the employees’ task lists, to promote their development of more innovative original ideas.
Goes hand in hand with flexible working
Flexible working schedules also encourage deep learning as they provide employees with a more relaxed, less regimented working schedule. Providing employees with more independence, which therefore inspires creativity.
How to facilitate deep learning
By removing the clutter of unnecessary tasks, it gives employees the opportunity to focus on 4-5 hours of deep learning. Instead of wasting energy on irrelevant tasks. As 8 hour days do not necessarily equate to productivity and can leave employees feeling overworked and stressed, taking a negative toll on their mental health. It is far better for an employee to work a solid 6 hours, being fully productive and focused for the majority of those 6 hours, than working 8 hours where 2 are taken up by scrolling through their social media, getting distracted looking out the window or distracting other employees at their desks.
Of course, if you give employees the opportunity to work 6 hours instead of 8, some would argue that some would take advantage of that and end up working fewer hours and still not being fully productive in that time. That is why it is important to couple the proposed shorter working week with deep learning. Both concepts should go hand in hand. As they both complement and facilitate each other. Furthermore, deep learning comes with many benefits attached.
Benefits of Deep Learning
Improves productivity
By practicing deep learning, employees are able to complete their tasks in much less time, by reigning in all their concentration and focus. It is unrealistic to expect employees to be able to fully concentrate for a set 8 hours, so why not encourage them to fully focus for less time, which will likely enable them to produce more work. But not only more work, but also better quality work.
Facilitates creativity
By practicing deep learning, employees can become more creative thinkers. By thinking more creatively, they will have more of a breadth of new ideas to contribute. Along with the ability to suggest more innovative outside the box proposals. Creativity is best improved by thinking creatively- sounds obvious but it is true. You can train your brain to think creatively by practicing it through creative thinking exercises, creative brainstorming activities and focusing on thinking more outside the box.
Enables a better work-life balance
By conducting deep learning, employees can work fewer hours, but are much more focused and therefore more productive. By providing employees with this option, it improves their work-life balance. This is important as in a study conducted by Well Working, it was revealed that 71% of employees stated that their work life interferes with their personal life.
Many studies have analyzed the issues associated with not having a good work life balance. Not having a good work-life balance can lead to burnout, stress along with some pretty severe health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. This demonstrates the importance of having a good work life balance. As it goes far beyond levels of happiness, but can detrimentally affect employees’ health.
Increases employee happiness
Deep learning improves employees’ work-life balance, which leads to an increase in employee happiness. The benefits that come with employee happiness in businesses are multiple. As it is well known that the productivity and quality of your employees’ work improve when they are feeling happy and satisfied. Demonstrating the direct link between employee happiness and the success of your business.
To maximize creativity levels, employers could start utilizing HR software tools to automate mundane HR related tasks. This way the HR managers can dedicate more time to their employees to aid them in their deep learning process.
Deep Learning vs. Machine Learning
In the deep learning book,
Simply put, when it comes to deep learning vs. machine learning, the main difference lies in the way data is presented. The algorithms associated with machine learning require more structured data. On the other hand, with deep learning networks, there is more of a reliance on artificial neural networks and their layers. More information about the differences can be found in a deep learning book or in recently conducted studies.
New Future of Deep Learning
An example of a company that has adopted the idea of fewer working hours is Shake Shack. This American fast food company gives employees 32-hour shifts and pays them the same as before. They just ask that their employees get the work done in less time. This method has proven to work very well for them. Additionally, Microsoft Japan tried the 4-day working week and claimed that productivity increased by 40% and electricity costs fell 23%. Additionally, Finland’s new prime minister, Sanna Marin, announced that her country may experiment with a 4-day work week. And in Andrew Barnes’ (founder of New Zealand financial services firm Perpetual Guardian) new book ‘The 4 Day Week,’Â he wrote about how letting his employees work this way made them overall happier and therefore made the company more profitable.
