UK Four Day Work Week Experiment: Can It Work Here?

[g5000]

I've been saying for a while that it is just a matter of time before we have a 35, or even a 30, hour work week.

While automation has eliminated a lot of jobs, it has greatly increased worker production.

We are manufacturing more stuff than ever, but using less workers to do it.

We are mining more stuff than ever, but using far less workers to do it.

We are producing more food than ever, but using less workers to do it. At the time of the ratification of the Constitution, 98 percent of Americans were in the agricultural sector. Today, we feed the world with just 2 percent of our labor force.


The UK recently performed an experiment where some companies reduced their work week to four days, while paying the workers the same salary.

It was a resounding success, and the companies involved plan on continuing the four day work week even though the experiment is over.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/02/21/four-day-work-week-results-uk/

I think it is time we thing about doing the same thing here in the US.

 

[AMart]

Thats for corporate office jobs. Lots of people want to work 60 plus hours a week.

 

[Mikeoxenormous]

I've been saying for a while that it is just a matter of time before we have a 35, or even a 30, hour work week.

While automation has eliminated a lot of jobs, it has greatly increased worker production.

We are manufacturing more stuff than ever, but using less workers to do it.

We are mining more stuff than ever, but using far less workers to do it.

We are producing more food than ever, but using less workers to do it. At the time of the ratification of the Constitution, 98 percent of Americans were in the agricultural sector. Today, we feed the world with just 2 percent of our labor force.


The UK recently performed an experiment where some companies reduced their work week to four days, while paying the workers the same salary.

It was a resounding success, and the companies involved plan on continuing the four day work week even though the experiment is over.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/02/21/four-day-work-week-results-uk/

I think it is time we thing about doing the same thing here in the US.

Yeah, Britstain really has a roaring economy...But even if the US had a 4 day work week, the government has to stop paying people not to work. You dont work, you dont get a dime of money, you work, you get to eat, you dont work, you starve. Simple as that.

 

[occupied]

Doesn't work in the trades. Most of us barely get away with 5 day weeks. Hard deadlines and seasonal weather conditions mean a construction site is busy just about every day of the week.

 

[g5000]

Thats for corporate office jobs. Lots of people want to work 60 plus hours a week.

If someone works for an hourly wage, yes. If they are salaried, no.

 

[g5000]

Doesn't work in the trades. Most of us barely get away with 5 day weeks. Hard deadlines and seasonal weather conditions mean a construction site is busy just about every day of the week.

You could have one crew working Monday through Thursday, another crew working Tuesday through Friday.

Or some variation thereof.

 

[occupied]

You could have one crew working Monday through Thursday, another crew working Tuesday through Friday.

Or some variation thereof.

We need everyone everyday. I really don't mind working all those hours. The difference is that we are 100% productive every hour we are there. It's not like office workers who apparently waste a lot of time.

 

[TNHarley]

Yeah, sounds awesome. The ones that do all the real work get fucked again. As usual.

 

[AMart]

If someone works for an hourly wage, yes. If they are salaried, no.

If you want to get promoted on a salary working more will get you there.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

Yeah, sounds awesome. The ones that do all the real work get fucked again. As usual.

Actually, the level of service increases.

 

[Missouri_Mike]

You could have one crew working Monday through Thursday, another crew working Tuesday through Friday.

Or some variation thereof.

Double the crew size doubles the cost. Double insurance, double SS payments, double vacation time etc.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

I've been saying for a while that it is just a matter of time before we have a 35, or even a 30, hour work week.

While automation has eliminated a lot of jobs, it has greatly increased worker production.

We are manufacturing more stuff than ever, but using less workers to do it.

We are mining more stuff than ever, but using far less workers to do it.

We are producing more food than ever, but using less workers to do it. At the time of the ratification of the Constitution, 98 percent of Americans were in the agricultural sector. Today, we feed the world with just 2 percent of our labor force.


The UK recently performed an experiment where some companies reduced their work week to four days, while paying the workers the same salary.

It was a resounding success, and the companies involved plan on continuing the four day work week even though the experiment is over.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/02/21/four-day-work-week-results-uk/

I think it is time we thing about doing the same thing here in the US.

Opinion: Maryland is striking a blow at the absurd culture of over-work | CNN

A five-day, 40-hour workweek feels normal and necessary is because we've made it that way, says Jill Filipovic, who argues we can -- and should -- adapt, especially when the best available research suggests a four-day workweek could be of mutual benefit to workers and companies.

www.cnn.com

 

[occupied]

Double the crew size doubles the cost. Double insurance, double SS payments, double vacation time etc.

It could just mean that a five man crew is missing a man everyday. That would be an organizational pain in the ass.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

It could just mean that a five man crew is missing a man everyday. That would be an organizational pain in the ass.

Then you do the same thing you do now... hire another person.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

NYC is basically on a 4 day work week and it's absolutely horrific for retail business. The food court at Grand Central Station is a ghost town. All the local businesses are closed.

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Thats for corporate office jobs. Lots of people want to work 60 plus hours a week.

Sad people they are

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Yeah, sounds awesome. The ones that do all the real work get fucked again. As usual.

Define "real work"

 

[occupied]

Then you do the same thing you do now... hire another person.

If only it were that easy to hire a good carpenter. We do high-end custom beach houses. Run of the mill nail pounders are just not suitable for what we do.

 

[Thinker101]

Dang, aren't we already on the 80/20 rule. Where 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

If only it were that easy to hire a good carpenter.

It's super easy, when you pay more than your competitors.

But I get it.