Call me old fashioned but I still think that a true living wage, more employee ownership, safe working conditions, a decent benefit package, and paid sick leave would make the 5-day work week more beneficial (to say healthier) than jamming 5 into 4. I can also see that service workers would be the most vulnerable. With less days they'd get to juggle even more of their lives - a second job, family, childcare, caregiving of their elders, etc. The jury is still out in my mind and it's a very small jury so far.
I read the 4 Day work week book the New Zealand guy wrote a bit ago, and the whole thing read like a big PR piece; this is really helpful context on the research.
I'm always suspicious of any hints of "one true solution!", and in this case, feels like an intervention with great intention, that because it's not addressing deeper systems level issues, often magnifies them.
Great essay Bob! What do we think about two retirement age tracks: one for blue collar and one for white collar? And first responders--appropriately--have younger retirement ages to start their pensions, so not a totally unheard of idea....
Interesting points made that I had never considered! I like the audio you’ve made available. Is it ironic that I enjoy listening to these during work?
Call me old fashioned but I still think that a true living wage, more employee ownership, safe working conditions, a decent benefit package, and paid sick leave would make the 5-day work week more beneficial (to say healthier) than jamming 5 into 4. I can also see that service workers would be the most vulnerable. With less days they'd get to juggle even more of their lives - a second job, family, childcare, caregiving of their elders, etc. The jury is still out in my mind and it's a very small jury so far.
I read the 4 Day work week book the New Zealand guy wrote a bit ago, and the whole thing read like a big PR piece; this is really helpful context on the research.
I'm always suspicious of any hints of "one true solution!", and in this case, feels like an intervention with great intention, that because it's not addressing deeper systems level issues, often magnifies them.
Thanks for pointing me here Bob!
Great essay Bob! What do we think about two retirement age tracks: one for blue collar and one for white collar? And first responders--appropriately--have younger retirement ages to start their pensions, so not a totally unheard of idea....