During the Industrial Revolution, the six-day workweek became the standard in many factories and workplaces. Workers often worked long hours in harsh conditions, with little time off. It wasn't until the labor movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s that workers began to demand better working conditions and shorter workweeks.
In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 established a maximum workweek of 44 hours, with overtime pay required for hours worked over 40 in a week. This law also established a minimum wage and child labor regulations. However, it wasn't until the 1940s and 1950s that the five-day workweek became the norm in many industries.
A transition to a four day work week would take time. Minimum wage will eventually will get adjusted for the workers in the service sector to have similar lifestyle.
shouldn't this be a widely accepted measure of human progress, like growing nutrition or literacy or something? As our technology advances, we'll inevitably be able to create and distribute more resources with less work. I'd think it would be fairly obvious and even celebrated that this should lead to less work with the same or increased standard of living.
In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 established a maximum workweek of 44 hours, with overtime pay required for hours worked over 40 in a week. This law also established a minimum wage and child labor regulations. However, it wasn't until the 1940s and 1950s that the five-day workweek became the norm in many industries.
A transition to a four day work week would take time. Minimum wage will eventually will get adjusted for the workers in the service sector to have similar lifestyle.
shouldn't this be a widely accepted measure of human progress, like growing nutrition or literacy or something? As our technology advances, we'll inevitably be able to create and distribute more resources with less work. I'd think it would be fairly obvious and even celebrated that this should lead to less work with the same or increased standard of living.