For a brief moment around 2023 the 4 day work week almost seemed like a real possibility but then something happened and the issue just died out.
I am creating this post as a way to collect information and research on the topic. Do you know of any research done on the subject? Do you have personal experience? Share them in the comments all engagement is welcome! Let’s bring that issue back to life!
Extracting the most hours of labour from employees was always more important than producing the most value.
Alternatively the execs whom regularly baulk at paying employees more for the same work, unsurprisingly, also baulked paying employees the same for less work. Productivity isn’t considered in this equation (or that all work hours are not equal productivity wise).
This is actually because of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). Capital expenditure can be amortised over the life time of the plant, while wages are not.
I do agree, but I also believe that with sufficient push from the employees these practices can change. For example the 8h work day (if I remember correctly) is a result from a similar push.