The five day work week.

[Duke]

Does anyone know who actually came up with this stupid idea?

Why not 4 on and 3 off? The guy/gal must have really hated his/her family.

[darkangelism]

dont they work less hours in europe?


I enjoy work, even when i hate my job, so i will work 6 or 7 days a week at least at first.

[Vautrin]

Yes, in Europe working time is less, with more holidays.

5 days is not as bad as it sounds. 150 years ago working days of 12-16 hours, including the whole of Saturday were quite normal in Great Britain.
Accidents that were prone to happen, were well documented. For instance with trains, because the person who is actually controlling the train, could be required to work 40 hours straight ...

[Duke]

Personally I think it's kinda stupid to work so much. Wouldn't we be a better world if everyone had at least one extra day to spend with their families?

[darkangelism]

but more work gets done, which means more profits which means higher stock price which means more $$$ in the pocket.

[Vautrin]

Which means additional tax income, which is spent on social services, and other ways to make certain that the youth does not go haywire ... there is a tendency for viscious cycles.

[Luba]

I keep talking about starting small, getting a siesta at work, hoping that a Boss will walk by when he hears this, thinks it's a great idea...and voila...it happens!

I know I'm a dreamer...

[Weiser]

Meh I set my own hours for the most part. Sure I work 5 days, but I don't mind.

[darkangelism]

yeah but income tax isnt that high compared to other countries.

[Animal]

it wouldnt matter if we only had a four day work week, ppl would just complain till they got a three day week.

[Duke]

I actually work 4 nights per week and would hate to go back to 5 days. I get way more work done in 4-10 hour shifts than I did in 5-8.

[Adonaicole]

but more work gets done, which means more profits which means higher stock price which means more $$$ in the pocket.

Actually they found out, that isn't true. Even though the employers fought them every step of the way, they found that when we went from a 48 hour work week to a 40 hour, the workers were so happy that the increase productivity more than made of for the 8 hours less of work a week. The bottom line is more work was accomplished in 40 than was possible in 48 because the workers were too tired. Having worked alot of overtime I can tell you that the first 7 days in a row you get more work done the second a little less but still more than if you worked 40. By the fourth week (of working seven days a week) you aren't able to do much and mistakes are made, you just get burned out.

[darkangelism]

but there is a point where less hours equals less productivity.

[Duke]

That goes without saying but I think the timeframe varies based on the job being done.