Debate- 4 day work week in America

[Fantine]

I agree that shorter work weeks are not currently necessary to provide jobs for everyone.

Agriculture adopts more and more technology every year. Not sure how you classify "hospitality workers" but even fast food ts have online ordering and payment now. I've been told that McDonalds makes burgers untouched by human hands. They come off the grill and go along an automated line receiving measured squirts of ketchup and mustard, a few pickles dropped on by machine, etc.

Supermarkets and other stores have self-checkouts. Checks (which are almost obsolete) can be deposited over the phone. More and more can be done with less and less human assistance.

Why couldn't you wear sneakers for the commute and switch to heels on the job? I've been seeing women doing that since the 80s.

This was the 70's. No one ever thought of doing it in the 70's.

 

[dogs4thewin]

Horrible idea. What if you need something immediately on a Friday and can't get it because all the stores selling it are closed? Also, it is less money paid to the employees who work on hourly salaries. And believe it or not, there are people who want to work five days a week.

A better option is doing what Canada does: reducing the term "full time" to be 35 working hours instead of 40 hours, What people need is more time off later in the day, especially if they have kids in K-12 schools. Also, pregnant women get tired in the day so I think they would welcome 7-hour work days.

One option would be to have people work four days a week, but have the place open five. Each employee gets one day off during the week. Also, you said what about needing something on a Friday by that logic places should be open seven days a week because what if you needed something on a Saturday?

 

[RDKirk]

Horrible idea. What if you need something immediately on a Friday and can't get it because all the stores selling it are closed? Also, it is less money paid to the employees who work on hourly salaries. And believe it or not, there are people who want to work five days a week.

A better option is doing what Canada does: reducing the term "full time" to be 35 working hours instead of 40 hours, What people need is more time off later in the day, especially if they have kids in K-12 schools. Also, pregnant women get tired in the day so I think they would welcome 7-hour work days.

Are they going to get paid for only 32 hours? That won't be popular in the US.