Of all the bargaining goals set out by the United Auto Workers union in the just completed talks, none was more ambitious, or gained less traction in negotiations, than the idea of a four-day, 32-hour work week.
Being stuck on a 40 hour work week, but just doing four tens, I can say the 32 hour concept needs to continue having traction. More and more people are waking up to the reality that work is just work. There’s life to live and we have the means nationally to allow for a meaningful life. When considering employment, only getting two days off is a dealbreaker.
But removing one entire soul crushing day from your week, allowing you to sleep in, do chores or errands, go somewhere fun, whatever you want. You are less free to do those things with the two extra hours per day because the two hours are probably before or after when many places are open, plus you and any compatriots with whom you might want to associate are more likely to be tired from work. (I’m speaking of a hypothetical “you,” not necessarily you personally, of course.)
I certainly think 4x8 should be implemented as the standard, but until that happens, I consider 4x10 to be far, far preferable to 5x8, especially if you get to choose your day off. I’ve mostly worked 4x10 for many years and the few times I’ve had to switch back to 5x8 have been soul crushing due to how much opportunity and “me time” I’ve lost.
I didn’t know I wanted it until the first job that offered it, but now it’s a requirement I’ll mention the first time I speak to any recruiter.
Agreed. Sure it is nice getting 3 day weekends but I am not cut out for 10h days. I just cannot be productive that long.
I’m glad that younger generations are more about work to live instead of pointless live to work bullshit. I saw my mom fall into that trap. Not worth it.
I don’t even hate my job. I like it. But I have way too many other things I could do with my time and life is fucking short. Going above and beyond so some rich douchebags can get more rich? Kinda low on the priority list.
What’s the point if you work until you die or even if you retire at 60-something and only get a few years to enjoy the free time before you’re too sick or dead? Saw my mom do that too. No thanks.
Let me know when I can join a union. All of us ought to link up and fight for a 4 day, 32 hr work week and enough money and benefits to retire at a younger age.
Sure it is nice getting 3 day weekends but I am not cut out for 10h days. I just cannot be productive that long.
There’s a strong argument that people also can’t be productive for 5x8h days. Cases of the Mondays, Friday afternoons, just staring at the wall. I think a fundamental aspect of the standard workweek is a lot of employees are sometimes just at work without actually being productive. That’s why some studies find no reduction in productivity when people go 4x8.
I’d be happy if I could just retire on time, which I don’t think is going to happen. I look at many people and still feel lucky that I “only” have to work 40 hours. People are compelled to work 60+ just for their subsistence and even they won’t have enough to retire.
This right here, I get the bulk of my responsibility completed in about 20 hours, where the rest of the time my particular role is that I’m compensated for “being available”. As for completion of my duties and helping the mission of the company is concerned, 32 hours for the same pay would actually save the company money. The “optics” though is what companies fear, and they don’t want to lose their leverage and power over workers.
Being stuck on a 40 hour work week, but just doing four tens, I can say the 32 hour concept needs to continue having traction. More and more people are waking up to the reality that work is just work. There’s life to live and we have the means nationally to allow for a meaningful life. When considering employment, only getting two days off is a dealbreaker.
I agree. I won’t do four ten hour shifts. You’re just adding two more soul crushing hours to your day.
But removing one entire soul crushing day from your week, allowing you to sleep in, do chores or errands, go somewhere fun, whatever you want. You are less free to do those things with the two extra hours per day because the two hours are probably before or after when many places are open, plus you and any compatriots with whom you might want to associate are more likely to be tired from work. (I’m speaking of a hypothetical “you,” not necessarily you personally, of course.)
I certainly think 4x8 should be implemented as the standard, but until that happens, I consider 4x10 to be far, far preferable to 5x8, especially if you get to choose your day off. I’ve mostly worked 4x10 for many years and the few times I’ve had to switch back to 5x8 have been soul crushing due to how much opportunity and “me time” I’ve lost.
I didn’t know I wanted it until the first job that offered it, but now it’s a requirement I’ll mention the first time I speak to any recruiter.
Agreed. Sure it is nice getting 3 day weekends but I am not cut out for 10h days. I just cannot be productive that long.
I’m glad that younger generations are more about work to live instead of pointless live to work bullshit. I saw my mom fall into that trap. Not worth it.
I don’t even hate my job. I like it. But I have way too many other things I could do with my time and life is fucking short. Going above and beyond so some rich douchebags can get more rich? Kinda low on the priority list.
What’s the point if you work until you die or even if you retire at 60-something and only get a few years to enjoy the free time before you’re too sick or dead? Saw my mom do that too. No thanks.
Let me know when I can join a union. All of us ought to link up and fight for a 4 day, 32 hr work week and enough money and benefits to retire at a younger age.
There’s a strong argument that people also can’t be productive for 5x8h days. Cases of the Mondays, Friday afternoons, just staring at the wall. I think a fundamental aspect of the standard workweek is a lot of employees are sometimes just at work without actually being productive. That’s why some studies find no reduction in productivity when people go 4x8.
I’d be happy if I could just retire on time, which I don’t think is going to happen. I look at many people and still feel lucky that I “only” have to work 40 hours. People are compelled to work 60+ just for their subsistence and even they won’t have enough to retire.
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This right here, I get the bulk of my responsibility completed in about 20 hours, where the rest of the time my particular role is that I’m compensated for “being available”. As for completion of my duties and helping the mission of the company is concerned, 32 hours for the same pay would actually save the company money. The “optics” though is what companies fear, and they don’t want to lose their leverage and power over workers.