4 Day Work Week

[Paradoxum]

Is there any reason to, in principle, oppose a 4 day work week?

People didn't always used to work 5 days a week. It used to be 6 or 7 days and perhaps 14 hours a day.

Progress has brought freedom, and why should that stop?

Why not pursue a 4 day work week?

The amount of days we work seems arbitrary.

 

[Cearbhall]

Pursue or oppose in what way? Legally? In a certain industry?

 

[Paradoxum]

Pursue or oppose in what way? Legally? In a certain industry?

Legally, sorry. Perhaps with some freedom for more days too.

 

[MehGuy]

I'm not sure if that would work in this current economy. Would be nice if that was the norm though, lol.

 

[Eryk]

I see no reason to oppose it. Work does not have to consume our lives, as if it's the only worthwhile activity. More time in our relationships is better for families and society, and more time in political activity is good for democracy. Capitalism is designed to use up the lives of workers in the task of making money for the owner class.

 

[Paradoxum]

I'm not sure if that would work in this current economy. Would be nice if that was the norm though, lol.

Why? Why did cutting hours work in the past, but suddenly doesn't?

 

[dysert]

I'm not sure if that would work in this current economy. Would be nice if that was the norm though, lol.

No kidding. Depending on the industry, 40 hours/week isn't enough to get the required job done.

 

[MehGuy]

Why? Why did cutting hours work in the past, but suddenly didn't?

Just seems like the average person's income will have to suffer from that. Unless we somehow force companies to pay roughly the same wages.

As for what happened in the past I have no idea. I cannot imagine there wasn't some reduction people had to stomach. Maybe over time it balances out.

 

[Eryk]

Unless we somehow force companies to pay roughly the same wages.

 

[Cearbhall]

Legally, sorry. Perhaps with some freedom for more days too.

How would you like it to be enforced legally? By mandating benefits for 4-day workers? By increasing the minimum wage?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

As I see it the problem isn't that the work week is too long or the work unpleasant or hard. Most employees have no problem with either, but a minority always seems to have problems. I wouldn't let the tail wag the dog here.

 

[HereIStand]

I'd be fine with the idea. With automation being what it is (and will become), four days a week may be too much for the amount of people in the workforce. More and more and items are being purchased online. Zombie-malls are cropping up. Added to this, driver-less trucks and cars. Amazon has a grocery store that's entirely automated; all your items are charged to your Amazon account. Maybe a minimum income is the idea, but I don't know if they'll be enough people working to cover everyone. Walmart and the government can't hire us all.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Why? Why did cutting hours work in the past, but suddenly doesn't?

I would say the main reason not to do this would be the loss of industry. Much as industries left once minimum wage, work hours, and all sorts of worker's rights were implemented by law...even more industries will leave if a 4 day week is enforced.

 

[SkyWriting]

No kidding. Depending on the industry, 40 hours/week isn't enough to get the required job done.

My work uses more than one shift for those kinds of troubles.

 

[SkyWriting]

Is there any reason to, in principle, oppose a 4 day work week?

In principle, one should keep busy 6 days leaving one day for rest.

 

[Tree of Life]

Is there any reason to, in principle, oppose a 4 day work week?

People didn't always used to work 5 days a week. It used to be 6 or 7 days and perhaps 14 hours a day.

Progress has brought freedom, and why should that stop?

Why not pursue a 4 day work week?

The amount of days we work seems arbitrary.

For most of the world it's simply not a possibility. It may be possible for those who are independently wealthy, have trust funds, or are supported by their parents or someone else.

But for most people if you only work 4 days a week then you'll only eat 4 days a week, so to speak. Who can afford to only work 4 days a week?

 

[Galatea]

Many places have 4 day work weeks, 4 ten hour shifts is a full time job. Some hospitals are on this schedule.

 

[Tallguy88]

I couldn't make bank on four days a week unless they were 10 hour days. Most people need full time work to get by, or even more. Mandating less would hurt the working class.

 

[Nithavela]

I'm sure it will happen as soon as you get rid of all unions and give the rich a few more tax breaks.

 

[Earatha]

Some people at my work prefer the four day work week. They work four tens. I work all five, since I prefer shorter days.

The problwm I would have with cutting work hours is the shortage of labor hours as it is in my line of work. We are looking to hire another 20 engineers. Each qualified engineer is expected to work 42-45 hours a week at least. Get me an extra 25 qualified people and cutting hours might be plausible.