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

[iamwhatiseem]

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.

Many non retail businesses have already switched to 4 days.
Our company basically has also. All of the production guys only work Mon-Thu.
An absolute skeleton crew is here on Fridays, but only till noon.
We made this change last summer

 

[BlackSand]

It's all relevant. People are paid more today for one day's work than people once were paid for a weeks work.

All the same, I offered to stay if I could work part time but I was told no. (I would have been paid less) The funny thing was, the company asked me to come back part time not long after I retired.

.

That's cool and there is nothing really funny about that.
You were competent ... Could do the work ... They might have made poor management decisions above your paygrade.
But ... It is what it is ... And kind of what I have been saying.

What ... Do you want a cookie ...

.​

 

[BlackSand]

most nurses already work 4 days a week only since they tend to do 12 hour shifts.

your ignorance is over flowing today

.

I am talking about the Topic of the Thread ... It's not nurse schedules and 12 hour shifts.
Shit ... Most of the nurses I know put in over 60 hours a week ... The Thread is about paying people for 40 hours ...
While stay home an extra day and only working 30 hours ...
You ignorant twat ...

.​

 

[BlackSand]

I think many people would be willing to take less to only have to work 4 days. (depending on the hours worked)

.

Yeah ... Reduced schedules could apply ... And for less.
Might still pay someone a little more just to keep them on the payroll ... Especially someone with experience.

I have always suggested that People do what they can to demand what they deserve, and the market can bear ...
For the work they can accomplish.
​

.

 

[AMart]

Why the hell would they want to do that?

To make more money duh.

 

[Vastator]

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.

Can it work here? Not if you're gonna be working for me.

 

[Catsnmeters]

To make more money duh.

I guess I just prefer my time off to money.

 

[Vastator]

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

Or some variation thereof.

Fuck that. That means taking on more employees. More people to insure, more work for payroll, and HR. Not gonna happen.

 

[BlackSand]

Why the hell would they want to do that?

.

Well ... Whether or not some wants to work more can have many reasons ...
But that is not what is proposed in the Topic.

There are currently roughly 22 workdays in a month ... That's 264 workdays a year.

If someone has been working for a business for a considerable amount of time ... They may have three weeks paid vacation ... 15 workdays.
Then there are holidays ... Some people get paid to stay home on Federal Holidays ... That can be (low-balling) ... 8 workdays.
The Topic suggests adding another paid day every week to that ... That's (low-balling) ... 49 workdays.

At 264 workdays ... When you subtract 72 of them ... Not counting paid sick days ... That ends up being 192 workdays annually ... Per employee.
And ... If you have four employees doing the same job ... That's one too many ... And doesn't add to the manhours paid for that are worked.

The proposal in the Topic is more about employing more People to work less hours ...
Which is a popular concept in Europe ... And has been for decades ... They have more People than work.
Here ... We need to grow business ... And become more Efficient and Productive.

.​

 

[BrokeLoser]

Construction hand? Hardly. I am a master woodworker/furniture builder/artist. My stuff has appeared in national magazines with clients you've heard of.

Hahaha….”Artist” = Classic Lib speak

 

[Ray From Cleveland]

I think many people would be willing to take less to only have to work 4 days. (depending on the hours worked)

I know of companies that went from 5 eight hour days to 4 ten hour days and never been happier. You get the same amount of hours only with a three day weekend every weekend. If we moved our entire country to that schedule, the price of gasoline would lower greatly as that would be one less day of driving to work and back which of course means one less day of rush hour. There is no negative with that schedule. You already made the trip to work, so what's working two more hours a day?

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

12-hour shifts?

Ten hours.

 

[ThisIsMe]

We need engineers, doctors, teachers, etc etc etc also.




So those with a higher student debt should get more.

Hey, I’ve stated that if someone goes to college for a needed career field, like science, engineering, etc, those would be things i might be in favor of helping with tuition. The difference is though, that going to school for any of those doesn’t guarantee their contribution to society will be beneficial in general, whereas a farm is almost always beneficial to society.

So those with a higher student debt should get more.

No, because them being in college is not having a beneficial impact on the country, and, they took on the debt, and are responsible for repaying it, as were the conditions of the contract when they signed them.

 

[ThisIsMe]

Pre 2008 the banks were handing out loans to people they knew could never repay them when things hit the fan. Things were rolling though and money went out haphazardly.

It crashed and the banks got billions. Maybe it's not just 18 year olds that need their hands held a little tighter.

Oh, no doubt, banks should probably be a bit more cautious of who they loan money to. Again, it needs to be understood what it means, I’m sure most people do understand that, but especially for young adults who may not quite be thinking it through all the way.

 

[pknopp]

Hey, I’ve stated that if someone goes to college for a needed career field, like science, engineering, etc, those would be things i might be in favor of helping with tuition. The difference is though, that going to school for any of those doesn’t guarantee their contribution to society will be beneficial in general, whereas a farm is almost always beneficial to society.



No, because them being in college is not having a beneficial impact on the country, and, they took on the debt, and are responsible for repaying it, as were the conditions of the contract when they signed them.

Farmers are responsible for their businesses, not me.

 

[pknopp]

Oh, no doubt, banks should probably be a bit more cautious of who they loan money to. Again, it needs to be understood what it means, I’m sure most people do understand that, but especially for young adults who may not quite be thinking it through all the way.

Nor did the banks and they got billions.

 

[frigidweirdo]

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.

Problem is, the rich will simply see it as a way to employ less people, and they'll try and pay less tax, which means the poor are screwed.

 

[occupied]

Hahaha….”Artist” = Classic Lib speak

If someone made decent money for fifteen years making high-end furniture and decorative objects for the Palm Beach decorators market they may correctly call themselves an artist. hundreds of works by me adorn the walls and rooms of the rich and famous. These days I work as lead carpenter but I still produce wood carvings and cypress furniture on the side. Hoping to retire to doing it full time. I'd love to post some stuff here but every picture I have is already on my facebook page. Not going to fuck up like that again.

 

[ThisIsMe]

Farmers are responsible for their businesses, not me.

Farmers are responsible for helping feed the country, but if you are opposed to them getting subsidies, write your congress person.

 

[pknopp]

Farmers are responsible for helping feed the country, but if you are opposed to them getting subsidies, write your congress person.

This is how it usually goes. Socialism for corporations, good. For the people, bad.