The 4-day workweek was a longshot. The UAW isn’t giving up
Of all the bargaining goals set out by the United Auto Workers union in the just completed talks, none was more ambitious, or gained less traction in negotiations, than the idea of a four-day, 32-hour work week.
Being stuck on a 40 hour work week, but just doing four tens, I can say the 32 hour concept needs to continue having traction. More and more people are waking up to the reality that work is just work. There's life to live and we have the means nationally to allow for a meaningful life. When considering employment, only getting two days off is a dealbreaker.
I agree. I won't do four ten hour shifts. You're just adding two more soul crushing hours to your day.
But removing one entire soul crushing day from your week, allowing you to sleep in, do chores or errands, go somewhere fun, whatever you want. You are less free to do those things with the two extra hours per day because the two hours are probably before or after when many places are open, plus you and any compatriots with whom you might want to associate are more likely to be tired from work. (I'm speaking of a hypothetical "you," not necessarily you personally, of course.)
I certainly think 4x8 should be implemented as the standard, but until that happens, I consider 4x10 to be far, far preferable to 5x8, especially if you get to choose your day off. I've mostly worked 4x10 for many years and the few times I've had to switch back to 5x8 have been soul crushing due to how much opportunity and "me time" I've lost.
I didn't know I wanted it until the first job that offered it, but now it's a requirement I'll mention the first time I speak to any recruiter.
Agreed. Sure it is nice getting 3 day weekends but I am not cut out for 10h days. I just cannot be productive that long.
I'm glad that younger generations are more about work to live instead of pointless live to work bullshit. I saw my mom fall into that trap. Not worth it.
I don't even hate my job. I like it. But I have way too many other things I could do with my time and life is fucking short. Going above and beyond so some rich douchebags can get more rich? Kinda low on the priority list.
What's the point if you work until you die or even if you retire at 60-something and only get a few years to enjoy the free time before you're too sick or dead? Saw my mom do that too. No thanks.
Let me know when I can join a union. All of us ought to link up and fight for a 4 day, 32 hr work week and enough money and benefits to retire at a younger age.
Sure it is nice getting 3 day weekends but I am not cut out for 10h days. I just cannot be productive that long.
There's a strong argument that people also can't be productive for 5x8h days. Cases of the Mondays, Friday afternoons, just staring at the wall. I think a fundamental aspect of the standard workweek is a lot of employees are sometimes just at work without actually being productive. That's why some studies find no reduction in productivity when people go 4x8.
I'd be happy if I could just retire on time, which I don't think is going to happen. I look at many people and still feel lucky that I "only" have to work 40 hours. People are compelled to work 60+ just for their subsistence and even they won't have enough to retire.
why the fuck is it a longshot? god forbid people have more time to themselves
Long shot because good luck convincing some big corporation you should have any time to yourself at all.
Because our industrialist masters think revolution is no longer an option.
This was the one I wanted to see most out of all their demands
Gentlemen, it is with great pleasure I inform you that I have just been hired onto a new job and it is a 3-day work week. Am much pleased. Believe me, my whole life I've been working 5 or 6 day work weeks working my ass off for very little pay, finally I have this reprieve. In these three days I am earning as much as I would normally earn in five or six days. Again I express my gratitude and I hope someday everyone in the world may feel this reprieve.
I'm curious how many hours you work in one day? I work three 12hr shifts. It's still better than working that M-F 9-5 nonsense
I work 4 hours a day. Three days a week. My manager explained to me he keeps everyone at 3 days a week so we don't get burnt out. And I'm pretty sure on their end they keep us at 3 days a week so they don't have to consider us full-time employees and pay out benefits 🤷🏻♀️ So there's that. I don't need benefits though. I'm a military veteran so I've got benefits there.
Man, I’d kill for a 3 day work week. I’m on a 9-80 schedule but also have to go into the office (1hr each way) 2 days a week, so I end up spending around 10 hours per day on avg Mon-Thurs and it’s absolutely miserable.
Even just a 32 hour 4-day work week would be life changing. As is, I feel like I’m just wasting time half the time i spend working because I’m so burnt out that I’m not as productive as I would be otherwise.
Good for you though. Glad to hear some employers are trying out something more conducive to how human beings actually function.
You have to shoot big if you want to get anything close to what you want - it's a basic principle of negotiation
Eliminate bullshit work and you'll be down to a 15 hour work week.
A hockey game is only played for an hour, yet each team has 5 lines.
Auto plants run 24 hours and have 3 lines.
Who's dreams are these? Nobody dreams of a 4 day work week,
we all dream of a 2 hour workday.
I mean the issue being that people have 40 x 5 but still end up working more.
This guy walking into presidential aspirations? The bully pulpit needs a rational person, on the side of good against "endless growth" mentality, who doesn't hesitate to kick ass.
Seems like he's checking boxes...
If the conditions are still the same that cause people to want to ask for a 4 day work week, then people will keep asking!
Should be pushing for universal healthcare instead.
Why not both?
4-day work week means less stress and more time to rest and be healthy, and a NHS system would also be very good as well.
It's way past time for both.
Fight for a real 40 x 5 week first, otherwise it doesn’t matter.
Fighting for a 32h/4day work week is a great way to get a proper 40h/5day work week as a concession. But I've heard some union contracts get 72h/9 day fortnights (5-4-5-4) so that's a promising sign.
I already have that though.