Forum Post: Livable Wages, Reasonable Hours!
Posted 9 years ago on July 19, 2014, 1:44 p.m. EST by TGN
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There's been plenty of discussion about livable wages or raising the minimum wage. But, so far, not much is being said about reducing the work week to more reasonable levels from 40 hours per week to say 36 hours. There are many ways to implement this. Maybe make every Friday a 4-hour work day. Or, to be fair to commuters who travel far to work, make Thursdays and Fridays a 6-hour work day.
There are also many good arguments in favor of doing this. The reduced stress on workers. The convenience and extra time it gives them to take care of personal matters outside the workplace, etc. Certainly there are better arguments for reducing the 40-hour work week than maintaining it. Why should people be forced to work 8 hours on a Friday after they've already given their all for the week? It's not healthy. It's not necessary. It's not justifiable. It's also costly.
Livable Wages, Reasonable Hours!
The German Job-Share Model, "Work Like a German"
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/15/opinion/work-like-a-german.html?_r=0
"We need to focus on enabling workers to stay in work — rather than having to compensate them after they have lost their jobs."
And, the "The president of the UK Faculty of Public Health said the five-day week should be phased out to end what he called "a maldistribution of work" that is damaging many people's health."
"UK needs four-day week to combat stress, says top doctor"
"Reducing working week from five days 'will help reduce stress, let families spend more time together and cut unemployment"
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/01/uk-four-day-week-combat-stress-top-doctor