An interesting relationship has been document between nominal and actual working hours. When nominal (prescribed) working hours are increased, actual working hours decrease. In other words, the longer the workday or work week, the lower is worker productivity. This finding holds even for highly motivated workers. In the early days of World War II in England, patriotic fervor reached a peak. Dangerously low in supplies and equipment, the nation was fighting for survival. The government extended the work- week in defense plants from 56 to 69 1/2 hours. At first, productivity increased 10%, but it soon fell 12% below the previous level. Other consequences of increasing nominal working hours included greater absenteeism and more frequent accidents In the 69 1/2-hour workweek, actual working hours were only 51. With the shorter 56-hour workweek, actual working hours had been 53. A study conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics during World War II showed that the 7-day workweek that was adopted by many U.S. companies during the war resulted in no greater production than the 6-day week. One day of the 7 days was lost time.