TGIF: Kiwi workers clocking out early

Kiwi workers reckon they'd be happier if they finished early at the end of the week. Photo / iStock

A survey has found that Friday afternoon is the least productive time of the week in the workplace - and Kiwi workers reckon they'd be happier if they finished early at the end of the week.

Of the 603 people asked, half said they weren't so focused on work on a Friday afternoon, while only 15 per cent said Monday was their least productive day.

And of the 86 per cent of people who said they'd get more job satisfaction if the weekend started a bit earlier on a Friday, three quarters also thought it would decrease work stress, and up productivity.

The survey, which looked at workplace productivity patterns, also asked people working a 40 hour week about their love life - and found that an early end to the week would make them happier in their relationship.

Nearly three quarters of respondents said they wished their partner was more spontaneous and the majority those surveyed who were in a relationship said they'd like their partner to surprise them with a weekend away.

The data was released by the Freedom Fridays initiative, promoted by the Bay of Islands Marketing Group, which encourages people to skive off work early on a Friday and head to the region.

The group's chairman, Charles Parker, said Savvy employers should take the opportunity to motivate staff by allowing them to leave early on a Friday and partners could do the same, by surprising their loved one with a romantic getaway.

"The Bay of Islands is an easy three hour drive [from Auckland] so whether you leave work at 1pm or 6pm on a Friday you can still get there in time for dinner before enjoying a relaxing weekend away," he said.

Mr Parker said Freedom Fridays was designed to "reignite New Zealanders' love affair with the Bay of Islands" and increase visitor numbers to the region.

According to the New Zealand Productivity Commission, Kiwis work long hours but lack in the amount of goods and services they produce.

Data from Statistics NZ shows that 153,000 work 50 hour weeks, 141,000 work 45 hour weeks, while more than 19,000 claim to work 70 hour weeks.

In Sweden, six-hour work days are being trialled in an attempt to cull wasted ours during which staff are not working productively.