Why the 5 day work week is outdated?

Studies show benefits to a four-day workweek, including a better work-life balance
work-life balance
Work–life interface is the intersection of work and personal life. There are many aspects of one's personal life that can intersect with work including family, leisure, and health.
https://en.wikipedia.org › Work–life_interface
 and better work results. COVID-19 has spurred on many trends in the last couple of years, including working from home, the Great Resignation and the end of the five-day workweek.


Is the 5 day work week outdated?

While the five-day, 40-hour workweek is a nearly century-old tradition, the model is severely outdated. Employees should be measured by output, not hours.

How did we end up with a 5 day work week?

The five-day, 40-hour workweek became part of American labor law partly due to Henry Ford. In 1926, the founder of the Ford Motor Company took his six-day-a-week operation down to five days per week, with no changes in employee compensation.


Will 4 day work weeks become a thing?

The four-day workweek is becoming a reality for many, as it continues to gain global adoption. In early June, over 70 companies in the United Kingdom embarked upon a six-month pilot program, and the results are already looking positive.

Why are we still working 40 hours a week?

And when the Great Depression hit in the 1930s, the U.S. Gov't saw Ford's shorter workweek as a way to fight the massive unemployment crisis – companies would need to hire more workers to get the job done. By 1940, a series of laws made the 40-hour workweek the norm in the U.S. It has been that way ever since.


The five-day workweek was made up. What if we changed it?



Who decided on a 5 day work week?

Henry Ford became one of the first employers to adopt a five-day, 40-hour week at his Ford Motor Company plants in 1926.

Should we get rid of the 40-hour work week?

Does the 40-hour work week even make sense anymore? According to a new infographic from online lenders NetCredit, the answer is a resounding “No.” As it turns out, the 40-hour work week is not only bad for employees' health, but also bad for business.

Why should we change to a 4 day work week?

The four-day workweek is becoming increasingly popular as companies strive to find unique ways to support their employees' mental health and happiness. Some of the main benefits of a shorter workweek include increased productivity, decreased business expenses, and a smaller carbon footprint.


How many hours a week did people work before the 40-hour work week?

The history of the 40-hour work week

People were working 80 to 100 hour weeks during this time. 1866: The National Labor Union asked Congress to pass a law mandating the eight-hour workday.

Which country has 3 days weekend?

United Arab Emirates. The UAE slashed its official working week to four-and-a-half days in early December 2021, and transitioned from the five-day work week. As per the reports, the new change came into effect from January 1, 2022.

Which country works 4 days a week?

Iceland: One of the leaders in the four-day working week

Between 2015 to 2019, Iceland conducted the world's largest pilot of a 35 to 36-hour workweek (cut down from the traditional 40 hours) without any calls for a commensurate cut in pay. Some 2,500 people took part in the test phase.


When did Saturday become a day off?

Henry Ford, the legendary car maker, made Saturday and Sunday days off for his staff as early as 1926 and he was also keen to set down a 40-hour working week.

What country has the shortest working week?

According to the OECD, the country with the shortest working week is the Netherlands, with a reported 29.5 weekly working hours. Broken down by day, that translates to a four-day workweek with just 7.37-hour days. Denmark follows with 32.5 working hours a week, and then Norway, with 33.6.

Do Europeans work 40 hours a week?

On average, a full-time employee in the European Union works 37.1 hours per week (main job).


What percent of America works 40 hours a week?

How many hours are Americans putting in? According to this report, the highest percentage of Americans (54%) work on average 40-49 hours per week. Another 22% work 50-59 hours, and there is 9% who are burning the candle at both ends with more than 60+ hours.

Are people who work 4 days a week happier?

Results showed: Better work-life balance. After the company switched to a four-day workweek, the number of employees who felt they were managing both work and personal roles rose from 54 to 78%. Lower stress.

Are 4 10 hour days better?

Increased Employee Productivity: Of companies who have tried a four-day workweek, many noticed that the productivity and performance of their employees increased. Even though they're working the same number of hours, that extra day off each week gives them more time to rest and recharge.


Why we should have a shorter work week?

Less stress, more efficiency

Many employees become highly focused on their work and are more efficient in a shorter week. They take fewer breaks and zero in on getting work done because they know they have additional time to do what they want or need to do on their off day. The incentive is already built in.

Who invented the 9 to 5 work week?

The modern 9-to-5, eight-hour workday was invented by American labor unions in the 1800s and went mainstream by Henry Ford in the 1920s. Workers today are still prepared to accept the same shifts because we have become so accustomed to it.

Who invented the 8-hour 5 day work week?

On September 25th 1926, Henry Ford announced the 8-hour, 5-day work week. This was a shock for many because other factories had their workers work 6 days a week for extensive hours a day. Ford was very considerate of his workers and believed that they needed time for their family.


Who started the 8-hour work day?

The first country that introduced the 8-hour work day by law for factory and fortification workers was Spain in 1593. In contemporary era, it was established for all professions by the Soviet Union in 1917.

When did full time become 40 hours?

Government saw a shorter workweek as a way to fight the massive unemployment crisis by spreading the remaining labor out over more people. That led to a series of laws that eventually enshrined 40 hours as America's workweek in 1940.

How long was a work day in the 1800s?

1810–1840 – Industrial Revolution

Gas lighting in factories enables employers to lengthen the workweek by extending long summer hours into winter. Factory workers regularly put in 12-hour days and 68-hour workweeks. By 1840 the workweek in the major mill town of Lowell, Massachusetts averages 74 hours.


What time does the average American start work?

Somewhat unexpectedly, it turns out most American workers don't show up to work at 9 am, but between 7:45 and 8:00, every morning. In total, 10,645,012 people across all the business sectors surveyed clock-in at this time. While most women across America get to work in that time slot, men occupy a different range.