In the status quo, we hear a lot about raising the minimum wage and the prevalence of corporate greed, which are both genuine issues that need to be addressed, but there’s another issue we don’t discuss near enough, the 40 hour work week.
During the Industrial Revolution, America’s economy dramatically shifted from a focus on agriculture to manufacturing and production. Many Americans moved to cities to work in factories and, with the availability of electrical light, were able to work much longer hours. During this time, 12 to 16 hour shifts, six days a week were common. People regularly worked anywhere from 72 to 96 hours in a week.
The long hours led to many feeling displeased with the system. In 1817 Robert Owen, a Scottish textile manufacturer, first coined the popular expression, “Eight hours labor, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest,” advocating for a shorter work day, but the idea wouldn’t become commonplace in the United States for a few more decades.
In 1866 the National Labor Union petitioned Congress for a law that would enforce an eight-hour work day, but the movement ultimately got little traction and failed. It would be another 72 years before legislation would be passed mandating that worker’s would receive additional pay for overtime.
The modern 40 hour work week was first implemented by Henry Ford in 1926. In contrast to other major factories of the time which demanded 6 days of work, Ford’s factory ran on a system where employees were expected to work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Despite working one day less, Ford noted an increase in productivity.
The 40 hour work week has hardly changed since Ford’s invention of the modern weekend, despite major social and technological advancements within the last century. Given that we live in a dramatically different world than those of the 1920’s, we drastically need to evaluate our time at work.
In recent years, the line between work life and personal life has become increasingly blurred. 80 percent of people continue to work after leaving the office, whether that be by sending emails or answering calls, according to a study performed by Good Technology. 50 percent reported doing so because they felt as though they had “no choice.” According to the study, the average person spent about seven additional hours per week devoted to work related tasks outside normal hours.
On top of that, over 41 percent of American workers are paid on salary, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which means that regardless of how many hours they work, their pay remains the same.
A Gallup poll from 2014 reported that the average American full-time employee works 47 hours a week.
As the lines between work and home become increasingly fuzzy, and employees spend more time dedicated to their work, society should reevaluate the number of hours spent in the office.
Beyond changing expectations, studies have frequently shown, as Ford discovered nearly 100 years ago, that productivity is not negatively affected by fewer working hours. There have been multiple studies performed examining the effects of a shorter work week.
In one study, nursing home faculty were mandated to work only 30 hours a week. Despite this, the nursing home reported an increase in productivity and worker health, and a decrease in worker absenteeism.
The Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, implemented a 6 hour work day for 68 nurses and doctors, then hired an additional 15 new employees to cover the time lost. Despite the change being initially expensive, absenteeism nearly disappeared, doctors were more efficient, the hospital was able to perform 20% more operations, and surgery wait times were lowered from months to weeks according to Anders Hyltander, the hospital’s executive director.
A shorter work week doesn’t only show potential benefits for business however. Studies have shown that workers themselves are benefited by fewer hours at work. In both the studies already referenced, workers reported feeling happier and more willing to work.
Yet another study, performed in Iceland from 2015 to 2019, which shortened 2,500 workers’ hours by 4-5 hours a week, saw similar results.
The study, lead by the Association for Democracy and Sustainability, reported, “Based on the analysis of a wide range of data, we can see that workers experienced significant increases in wellbeing and work-life balance — all while existing levels of service provision and productivity were at the very least maintained, and in some instances improved.”
With all things considered, the current 40 hour work week is an outdated system that needs to be revamped. I am willing to acknowledge that research on the topic is still limited, but given what studies have shown so far, it is something that needs to be further examined.
As a society we need to prioritize the mental and physical health of our workers. By decreasing the number of hours one is expected to work in a week we can improve physical and mental health while seeing little to no effect on productivity.
