It's Well Past Time for a Four-Day Workweek
8 hours ago
- #productivity
- #four-day workweek
- #labor movement
- Juliet Schor's book "The Overworked American" highlighted that by 1992, Americans were working an average of 164 more hours annually than in the early 1970s, surpassing workers in most industrialized countries.
- Shorter workweeks historically increased productivity due to reduced fatigue and higher morale, but reductions in work hours resulted from labor movements, not employer initiatives.
- The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mandated overtime pay after 40 hours, but it excluded daily overtime protections, and its enforcement has varied with political administrations.
- Union decline has weakened resistance to long hours, though some unions still negotiate limits on forced overtime, particularly in healthcare, to address burnout and safety risks.
- Schor's newer work explores a four-day workweek, noting interest from tech and professional sectors, but compressed schedules like 10-hour days can compromise well-being.
- Legislative efforts, such as Bernie Sanders' bill to reduce the workweek to 32 hours, face challenges, and widespread adoption depends on stronger labor organizing or statutory mandates.