Should we have a 4 Day working week?? This could solve many of our social problems but could it create more by an under-performing economy.
Conclusion
This discussion is now closed. The conclusion is not ready yet, check back soon.
View A
A 4 day working week would allow more leisure time and more time to spend with the family, both of which are fundermantal to a functioning society. We are too obsessed with work, with should not be the main priority. The economy may even benefit from a more content workforce willing to work harder.
View B
Cutting the working time by 20% would mean we were no longer able to compete with other economies, decreasing our output and becoming even more reliant on foreign goods. It would also be a disincentive for companies to invest here
21 comment(s) so far
Robert5thinks: In the mid-and late 1970's there were 3-day weeks worked because of industrial action, Electricity was of relatively intermittent continuity. Yet the workforce, Workers and Management rose to the challenge, as they did in War. They exceeded their five-day week work and output rate! As an implicit inference, people may hate their jobs because they theive a disproportionate amount of their waking hours. If the output measurably increases, the Real Wage of the Employees should increase proportionately. Not profit! As Costs would be lower, for a specific output. See Germany in the 1980's and '90's! How much better would families be able to stay together!
JBonninthinks: In France, the reduction of the workweek from 39 to 35 hours was very popular among workers and very unpopular among business groups...
But the French economic bad results stood on the side of the latter, and the 35-hour workweek had to be relaxed in spite of all the protests from the 300,000 people who marched against it, as they considered it an attack on employee rights.
ikemchineduthinks: A 4 day working week will make most people eager to get back to work on monday and probably make it the most productive day of the week as people return to work well rested and eager to go.
Also it means that before they get the friday fatigue or thank God its friday syndrome, they wont have to go to work on friday.
guythinks: People are more productive when they feel they are valued. And giving them more leisure time would help people feel more valued and be more productive.
But also giving extra rewards and praise for getting a task done well, on time , or before time is also good.
If you have a certain job to do for a certain amount of pay, then when it is done you leave work; Is another way of organising time.
Also problems with unemployment can be solved by reducing the hours of those employed and employing more staff.
chbarwickthinks: Well A...and B. Both are true. The burden of government fifty years ago for the average family was 3%. Today its about 25%. So there is your 20 percent. The tremendous technological and production advances of two generations benefit your neghborhood civil servant.
chipthinks: Since we're in Euro flavour... one of Renault's (of about 2) more automated factories (which number, ummm, 16 worldwide) produces 1500 cars per day, with 2 assembly lines of 2 generations of robotic helpers, old and new. It probably wont make a difference to those assembly lines. And thats what technology is all about. It gives us the freedom to enjoy, explore and appreciate all the world has to offer. I was hoping for a debate on a 2 day working week...sign me up!
If its paper-pushing, then you have telecommuting....work all day,all week or at your pace and wherever you are.
idesignthinks: Are we talking about a 4 day work week comprised of 4 ten hour days or are we just cutting a day off the week? I think if we work 4 long days and in return get three days off in the week, it could be a viable solution, otherwise it's just going to reduce productivity and no company would agree to that regardless of how happy their employees are. Corporations exist to make a profit, not make us live happy, fulfilling lives.
Maventhinks: Overall, I believe this would make people more productive. Often times when working on projects, I tend to be focused and would prefer to work straight through until it's finished. Not only does this provide a more comprehensive project, but it let's me focus on other things such as friends and family when I'm not at work rather than split time between the two on a five day work week.
Simplerthinks: I think it depends on the job type. Work requiring more thinking and creative problem solving would be higher quality of the job holder is clear in his/her mind. Too much time is wasted on pointless meetings so we could produce the same with a 4 day week. Problem is the culture in most places of work is not exactly saying "work less".
