The Case for the 32-Hour Workweek 

Oh yeah?? So imagine how you will pay your bills with 1/5 less money coming on your paycheck. Your employer will not pay you more and put pressure on the staff to work harder because they won’t hire more people.

@@jackthepirate9233 You're missing the point. There are tons of studies that show that employees aren't even productive the full 8 hours they are at the office. Since posting this comment I started working from home because of the pandemic. I work like 25-30 hours a week now and get just as much done as when I was in the office for 40 hours a week. I get that this can't work for all jobs, but it can definitely work for office jobs. Technology has made us WAY more productive anyway, but the number of hours worked hasn't gone down.

@@young9534 not all types of job are suitable for this though, many jobs require staff all the time, such as customer service, teaching, any job dealing with people directly actually; it's not feasible for employers to hire more staff to cover those hours that are left from the other employees working less; this 40 hours a week is NOT based on productivity but on investment/yield; in other words, the employers would be at a loss if they hired more people to work less than that.

​@@young9534 - Jack the pirate's comment IS the point. No business owner or manager would object if he got 32-hours worth of effort in four days but most contemporary American workers can't (actually won't) do that. Also, your definition of "productive" doesn't match that of most managers, meaning that in any organization a few dedicated workers finish or complete what the majority of their fellow workers fail to accomplish ... it's what keeps a business functioning. Since workers will only accomplish four days work in four days, the proposal is nothing more than another socialist redistribution sop for the workers (encouraging them to support democrats and the government) or a business-killing scheme to damage those businesses that operate on 3% profit margin (retail, groceries, most restaurants, etc.). Tech-based businesses will be fine, as will those that service the government (i.e., paid by taxpayers) and of course the government itself. Honestly, if they really wanted to change the American workforce, they'd (1) eliminate the minimum wage and enforce standards so that workers EARN a commensurate salary, (2) reduce burdensome regulations and allow businesses to flourish, and (3) reduce taxes on businesses and individuals (Note that #2 would promote #3). Personally, I don't think that will be an option until the socialism-biased government collapses, then again it might never be an option for those of us living because the next phase is more likely tyranny -- COVID lockdowns and vaccine mandates fostering tainted elections were only the beginning. Finally, consider one simple fact: Democrats, socialists, liberals and progressives demanded a $15 minimum wage to "begin" solving the income crisis ... it has failed miserably. Could that failure be the reason why they now propose reducing work hours while denying the employers the option to adjust compensation proportionally?

i appreciate the progress but still it is unsatisfactory and i consider the new 32 hour workweek no different than the 40 hour workweek. Full time work is organically 4 hours day and this is healthy for the mind, body and soul. But not just for the human being but for the earth to heal from rapid climate change ie global pollution. 4 hours a day is natural and cohesive

Still fucked. 6 years later.

It makes the economy more productive, people buy and spend more because they aren't all living in poverty like in the US (which is largely regarded as a poor country where I am from). P.S it s not done through tax, it is done through regulation.

90nomads I lived and worked in Europe and I still got my health insurance through my employer just like the US. While I had more vacation days, I had to use a lot of them to take care of household chores. You can’t get an oil change at a quick oil change place in the evening or on the weekends. You have to have that work done during a work day. Or, you have to build a closet in your bedroom during a work day because it’s not allowed during Sunday. Plus, the fact that you have to build a closet because it doesn’t come included with the apartment. Then you are encouraged to work after hours at home “off the books”. So, I didn’t see much advantage.

@@bdfunke did you live in Germany?

@@90nomads where are you from?

Even your rights don't sound that great

+Brent Wagstaff Nicely said.

This hits deep, the system needs to change

Dude what company is that? I hope you get out/got out!

Are you still work ? 12 hours a week

yeah I don't have a problem with people putting in extra time into their job but I've never understood how a lot of companies can have a six week schedule where Sunday might also be a work day (like hormel). And for some people their job really becomes a big part of their life in that sense but for some if not most it is a soul crusher.

Leave, you fool.

If you continue to work there, then you are complicit with the arrangement. Leave.

+Strahil Minev Well two now, I bet it's the greedy Koch brothers.

How would we all get anything done? The claim to this is people working 4 days are more productive so saying they do 5 days worth of work in 4 days? This is nonsense because if you're losing a whole days work every 5 days then you're obviously bone idle at work. And think about people who work hard, you can't cut hair faster, you can't do operations faster, drive hgv faster. And with working one day less Where's all the skilled workers going to come from to cover that lost day? Suddenly there's a shortage of every single low to high skilled job. All these trials are showing us is people in offices do fk all, all day apparently. So maybe other lines of work will work like office workers do today? Next time you get your haircut, two barbers will decide to stop mid cut and have a 15 min chat with each other. Then they can add up to a whole day loss of work too

If they need you they wont just shut the place down, they'll pay you overtime.

@@Yophillips3272 At first there would likely be a lot of overtime, but they would probably try to hire more people to work 32 hours per week.

+Miss Cellania We might get that if we elect Bernie Sanders into the White House.

Nah - working smart doesn't pay off if the contract says "work for 8 hours"! You can't leave earlier and at worst they'll shovel some stupid, un-needed, mindless busy work your way because it makes them look bad if you are napping at work because you are done early!

Good jobs are becoming too scarce as automation gets more advanced and population grows along with it. Human beings have become a victim of their own success, but that's only a certain perception. It could be argued that the only jobs that are "useful" are those that are necessary for subsistence, such as farming which were mostly done away with once tractors were invented. Centuries ago when monarchies were a thing, people toiled the fields and the nobles had all the free time. With this free time, some of them just goofed around, but some others invested that time into some "hobbies", dabbling in astronomy, literature, mathematics, science, philosophy and etc. These "hobbies" weren't "useful" as they didn't produce anything of immediate value, but it can't be denied that modern society would not be possible without people with too much free time pursuing these "hobbies". "Free time" is a resource that allows society to evolve as people are free to invest in things outside immediate survival.

its not 40 hours, 32 hours work paid for 40.

@@ohboypeach that's just foolishness.

OK as long as you are increasing your earnings by working longer hours.

Starting a business is even harder. It requires even more than 40 hours with zero pay.

That's nice a 9 hour working day, but that's already normal here as we don't get paid breaks. So unlike lots of office workers who work 9-5, we work 8-5. 5 hours more at work every week for same total hours worked

@@firstname4865 not sure what your intended point was?

+‫רבקה אברמוביץ‬‎ It is indeed, sad what little benefits are legally entitled to workers in the US.

+‫רבקה אברמוביץ‬‎ Don't forget maternity/paternity leaves.

Wow ridiculous

Micah Larkins It still could. He’d be able to raise their hourly rate to compensate for the reduced schedule.

@@dansugardude2655 let's be realistic here though you know he wouldn't

@@dansugardude2655 besides less hours worked means less production means less revenue means no raise

It depends upon how much is salary is. By working 32 hours a week, it could be more productive being on salary. If you focus upon being paid per hour, it is inevitable that employees will have to work more hours to make a sufficient income.

@@micahlarkins9963 In regards to productivity, it depends upon what type of job. A lot of White collar jobs, do not require a lot of hours to do the necessary tasks required. It's common to see a lot of hours wasted. However, in some blue collar jobs, such as truck-driving, reduced hours isn't feasible.

'cause people are brainwashed into believing that the left is crazy and all lefties are communists who want to ban private property etc. (there are some, but most simply aren't and just want to give the average Joe a seat at the table, not just some crumbs they then have to fight over as well!)

Key word "in me". If he wants to work 5 days to keep his work ethic. Then he can do that but let the employee have their 3 days off

@@quietcontender6969 They got rid of it for their employees too.

Exactly and the reason nobody can take a vacation and has to work more is because wages have not kept up with inflation. The dollar is worth much less than it was in 1979. These beta-male neckbeards put a high value on their existence but if you wiped out all of their jobs it wouldn't effect the economy at all.

The idea is that their total income should stay the same (because productivity per hour goes down when people are miserable and overworked), but with 32 hours instead of 40 (or whatever number they are currently working).

Mandatory living-wage! No job can pay less than what is needed to live a decent life! "But we can't afford that" - Bullcrap! People like Bezos and others like him could lose a few billion to finance this..."But they will leave for other countries" - not if this is implemented everywhere!

Yeah I'm a latino and I thought that was a pretty white thing to say. No offense

think not in Alabama we have jobs out the yin yang but in some parts of the state we have unemployment in the double digits why is easy the jobs that are available for these people is unworkable think 12 hour days 5 days out of the week or more and if you call in sick 3 days in a row you get fired and the pay is barely enough for a one-bedroom apartment. no one but the mentally ill or desperate would go to these jobs. so in short a lot of people are out of work by choice all they want is a 40 hour work week time to live there life on there terms away from work what could be so wrong with that its a problem but I think someone is lining their pockets instead of solving the problem. if your married you'll have a divorce. if you have kids you won't see them grow up. all in all its not living. it's legalized slavery

The soviet union had 50% of meaningless BS jobs. Those jobs could work zero days per week and not affect gdp. We are at 25% BS jobs right now. It does make sense to cut the work hours to match. except when the jobs are important, cutting their hours doens't make sense.

Agree. The only advantage of a half day on Friday is by then I'm exhausted and have mentally checked out unless it is something new or some crisis that I'm working on.

Actually a shorter week probably would benefit those fields as well. There is an increased accident and illness rate with working over 12 hours a day or 60 hours a week. www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2005/08/18/58572.htm

Membrane556 what you're looking for is more automation

willugoupordown I don't have any holes in my soul, and this life is amazing on balance, even with the bad parts.

Everyone has a yearning to know where we came from, why we're here, and where we are going when we die. It's the correct answer to those questions that lead us to the Lord. You are right about this life being amazing, but the things in this life are just a glimpse of what God has in store for those who believe in him wholeheartedly. Thank you for your response.

so because this world is awful you are inclined to believe in heaven? that just sounds like you're weak minded and move to the easier solution. If u had the same faith in humanity as u do in god YOU could make a difference instead of just waiting till the next life. do you need to be fearful of not going to heaven to be a good person? or could u just be compassionate towards others and have morals that get u through life happy without being judged for all ur actions afterward. i dont get religion

As I said in my other reply, there are many things that lead us to God, but yes the world being awful or cursed, as the Bible states it, is definitely a good reason to want to seek out God and/or if heaven is real, yes. It's interesting that you think it makes me weak minded and that believing that an all-knowing, all-powerful God exist that created us and everything. To me, it is obvious our entire world and everything around us were created specifically for us. You are right though, it is the easier solution. I mean, once you realize that Jesus really does exist and died for our sins and was used by God to create the world, everything falls into place. For example, where did we come from? He made us. Why are we here? He created us to live in a perfect world with him forever, but it was all ruined when Adam and Even chose to sin so Jesus had to die to pay for our sins and theirs. Where do we go when we die? It depends on whether you've asked God to forgive you for all of your sins and to save you from hell. If I put my faith in humanity, humanity would have already and has already failed me time and time again. Without God, nothing we do here has a purpose. It is only the things that we do for Him that matter. That's a great question about being fearful! The answer is no, not now that I've asked and received forgiveness from God and know, without a doubt, that I am going to heaven when I die. However, you are right, the 2 things are related. You see, good is defined by God and His word says that there are none that do good. Without God, there is no true and definite definition of things like "good" or "morals". The judgement will definitely not be fun, but it is for a short time and well worth heaven and being in the presence of God for all eternity versus hell.

god sounds selfish, we are here just to pledge our lives to him in hopes of a better life in heaven? if god really loves us ALL then why banish people to hell to suffer, but what is hell anyway? endless torture? but anyway we do have theories of where we came from, yes theyre just theories that have yet to be proven but when does humanity ever accept new scientific theories it takes time, and we know a lot more then we did 200 years ago. we know there are planets similar to ours in the universe that could support life. i would say there has to be some sort of other life out there and im s ure they arnt christians, heck christianity is 1 out of so many other religions how do u know u picked the right one? every thing revolves around faith, i personally rely on reason

Want math? (productivity per hour)*(hours)=(total productivity) The productivity per hour isn't a fixed constant. There are diminishing returns of working longer hours. Otherwise, your "math" solution leads to the obvious answer of a 168 hour work week.

@@KevinDurette Also, in case it wasn't painstakingly obvious, fuck you.

Taylor Aprile bro shut up. You’re trying to seem smart by using unnecessary language. Get a life

If facts disagree with your worldview, do you get angry, or do you change your worldview? www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190912-what-wartime-munitionettes-can-teach-us-about-burnout

Bullshit - productivity in most cases will not sink, because frankly: Most people spend only 4 hours (many even less!) truly working in an 8 hour day! You chat with this co-worker, you chat with that co-worker, you take a (smoking) break (if you are a smoker), you get yourself several cups of coffee, you take a lot leaks because of the coffee (or whatever else you are drinking), you are interrupted by noise, you are pretending to be working while being on social media etc. etc. - so reducing the actual time spent at the office is a good idea! A lot of start-ups test this and keep it, hell Microsoft Japan (Japan is the industrialized nation with the most working hours, the least holidays and the most work related suicides!) has a 4 day work-week now! They tested it and they are sticking with it!