Seven out of ten startup workers believe that the current 52-hour workweek system needs to be flexibly revised.

The Korea Startup Forum (KSF) announced today (September 28) that these findings were based on an online survey conducted from August 13 to 26 of 324 participants, including 173 startup executives and C-level officers and 1 jouw (general staff) 151 general employees.

According to the survey results, 76% of all respondents answered that the 52-hour work system "should be flexibly revised."

By position, 92.2% of executives and C-level officers and 61.3% of general employees voted in favor of the need for revision, with both sides exceeding a majority.

The proportion of respondents choosing to maintain the status quo was tallied at 38.7% for general employees and 7.8% for executives and C-level officers.

The high work concentration unique to startups was also prominent.

A total of 73.1% of all respondents stated that they had experienced reaching the limit of the 52-hour workweek during specific periods over the past year.

Regarding the reasons for heavy workloads concentrated during specific periods, deadlines for product and service launches (56.4%) and a focus on research and development (R&D) (16.9%) accounted for 73.3%.

Regarding the impact of the 52-hour workweek on management, 75.1% of executives and C-level officers answered that they were "affected in practical terms."

As for specific examples (including multiple responses), "executives and management taking on overtime work directly" was the highest at 35.8%, followed by "delays in delivery and launch schedules" (17.9%) and "coping with hiring additional personnel" (16.2%).

The special extended work approval system, introduced for use in emergencies, was found to be virtually inoperable in the field.

Among the executives and C-level respondents who are responsible for applying for approval, 72.3% answered that they did not know about the system itself, and even among the 27.7% (48 people) who knew about it, none (0%) had actual experience utilizing it.

Kim Jaewon, Chairman of the KSF, emphasized, "The core is to expand autonomy so that working hours can be operated more flexibly in accordance with the work characteristics of startups and the circumstances of their members," adding, "Systemic improvements should not be about making people work longer, but rather about allowing them to take the initiative in choosing when and how they work while equipping them with necessary safeguards."

The KSF plans to deliver the report containing these survey results to relevant ministries and the National Assembly, and actively voice field opinions in discussions on system revision.

(Photo courtesy of Korea Startup Forum, Yonhap News)