Rise and Fall of the 40-hour Work Week

According to Fernando Lozano, a labor economist writing for the New York Times, the number of white-collar workers putting in longer than 50 hours a week has increased over the last 30 years. While Dave at the office putting in unpaid overtime looks a lot different from the 14-hour factory shifts of the past workforce, it shows that businesses continue to put the profit over the worker, no matter the industry.

The 40-hour work week was primarily a response to workers' first organized demand for work-life balance in America. The history of American labor unions is one of constant pushback for worker protections. Big business has always had a problem with worker abuse, and although it looks a bit different now, that is still the case today. 

The history of the 40-hour workweek.

Despite its acceptance worldwide, our current system of 9-5, Monday through Friday, does not have a long history. It's relatively recent and due entirely to the hard fight of industrial-era laborers. 

It began in 1866 when the national labor union wanted to make 8-hour work days law. This failed, unfortunately, but didn't stop the efforts of organized labor. Three years later, President Grant guaranteed stable wages for government workers. Over the next two decades, strikes and organization efforts continued. There was a national strike in 1886, with more than 300,000 workers dropping their tools to support a shorter work day. In 1906 two major printing firms instituted an 8-hour workday, and in 1916 congress ordered the 8-hour day for railroad workers. Ford motor company adopted the modern 40-hour week as we know it in 1926, although mostly so he could turn employees into customers. Finally, in 1940, the fair labor standards act went into effect to standardize and protect workers from the abusive 100-hour work weeks of the past. 

Why is 40 enough?

If it's common to work more than 50 hours a week, you might think, is 40 the right amount? What are the benefits of a shorter work week? To you, I say…stop licking boots in the board room. 

The main benefit of our current system is a work-life balance. Despite what hustle culture desperately tries to shove down our throats, humans do not live to work. It's essential for mental and physical health and our society that people have enough time to rest and reconnect with their families.   

Now, if you are a corporate cog who consistently votes against your self-interest, you might think, "what about the company? What's best for them?" Well, a shorter work week and better work-life balance are better for the company too. Numerous studies show that happy, well-rested workers are more productive. And a more productive worker is a more profitable worker. 

Companies always want more. 

Despite hard work only earning employees minimal rights, many corporations constantly push the envelope. Workers are often coerced into working late and not taking their vacation time. Since unpaid overtime is unpaid for salaried workers, managers often dangle the promise of promotions and raise them as a reward for sacrificing their lives for the company. Realistically most never receive these enticements, and often they are the first to be laid off. 

It's not just staying late at the office, either. Our work bleeds into every other aspect of our life as the advent of technology has made us always reachable. Late night work calls, weekend emails, and vacation interrupting zoom calls are just a few ways our jobs ensure we don't get a rest when we are resting. 

What's next for the American worker? 

Workers in America have the worst protections in the western world, with many European countries offering better wages, longer personal time, and accessible healthcare. Meanwhile, the free land is littered with overworked and underpaid employees who can't even take a sick day without paying to visit the doctor for proof. 

Many people throw out the term "late-stage capitalist" while discussing America. The term, coined by German economist Werner Sombart, refers to the inequality, exploitation, and absurdity that modern business has created. While I'm not an economic expert myself, I can see how people make the comparison. As many companies run unchecked into quiet monopolies (I'm looking at you, Nestle, Disney, and AT&T), workers are being asked to do more and more work for less money. Meanwhile, the higher-ups taking credit for your work get a fat bonus yearly for "keeping costs low" by not hiring more employees. All of this seeming has the stamp of approval from our government. 

Are we at risk of returning to the operational standards of the industrial revolution? If we are not watchful of the lobbyists and lawmakers, we will continue to lose our protections slowly year by yearly the 19th century; the average workday was 14 hours. In our current day, I'm sure you can think of at least one chronic workaholic who puts in a full day, then goes home and continues to answer calls and emails, finishing projects late into the night. If we continue to bend to the company’s will, that could become normalized and required across the workforce. 

What can you do to stop this corporate abuse?

There is power in numbers, so talk to your coworkers! Discuss your salary and share grievances openly. You may be shocked by what you discover. Look into what union serves your industry, and don't forget government. Make sure to vote loud and proud, not just in the big elections. Local elections are often overlooked, but the city and state governments can be your biggest allies. Practice a healthy work-life balance and encourage your coworkers to do the same. Take the personal time you are entitled to, and never let your manager make you feel guilty for taking well-deserved days off. Don't answer work calls during non-paid hours, and mute your email during your rest period. If we can learn anything from history, it's that when workers unite, we hold all the power.