If you are fortunate enough to have a job these days, you are probably working a lot more than the standard 40 hours each week. Being a workaholic seems to be fashionable in some circles; demanded in others.
For most of the 20th century, American business leaders believed that a 40-hour week best served workers and employers alike. Studies show that we have 40 good hours a week in us, whether we are industrial workers, office workers, entrepreneurs or information geeks.
After 8 hours a day, our butt may be in the seat, but our brain has left the station. Errors and disasters have been attributed to overworked, overtired decision makers. Long work hours are stealing from home life, contributing to divorce. It’s time to reconsider.
A formula for best use of each 24-hour day is “eight for work, eight for sleep and eight for what we will.” It has been proven repeatedly that productivity soars when workers are on that 8/8/8 formula.
It will help the economy too. For every four Americans now working 50 hours a week, one more American could have a full time job. if we reduced the work week to the 40 hours required by law, it could solve our unemployment troubles overnight.
For the common good and American productivity and profitability, let’s bring back the 40-hour work week.
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