a thoughtful web.
Good ideas and conversation. No ads, no tracking.   Login or Take a Tour!
comment
geneusutwerk  ·  4102 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Case For A 21-Hour Work Week

    The work week is, at a basic level, tied to productivity

No, the work week as it currently stands is only a result of union fighting and corporations giving in. There has been some evidence to show that 40 hours seems like a fairly good amount of time, but we didn't get there because people were aiming for productivity. Which you seem to acknowledge, so I don't really understand why you lead with this.

That said, technology most likely could allow people to work less, but capitalist and social pressures really make it hard. The trade-off would mean that some people make less overall, but would mean that more people are making a decent wage.

What you say could just as easily apply to a 60 hour work day, or an 80 hour work day. There is nothing magical about 40 hours.