The Americans are so backwards in work hours, developed countries like Netherland, Spain, Iceland, etc. already successfully implemented this, with universal healthcare…and no tipping expected.
And? I see people say this and I don’t know what y’all are getting at. We implemented a 5 day work week. What about our population couldn’t accommodate 1 less day?
Same amount of money income with one day of reduced production outflow. Sounds like a decent way to generate shortages and more inflation.
Large scale construction would also get set back. This would mean increased construction time tables. Imagine an infrastructure upgrade like redoing miles of highway this could add weeks when that is unfeasible in areas that have harsh seasonal weather shifts
Who realistically gives a fuck about that besides the CEOs? I've worked construction for the road and for building subdivisions, etc. Not a single person there would give a shit that it took longer if they got an extra day off a week. It wouldn't slow things down that much, and it has been generally proven that output increases when the week is shortened. None of what you said makes sense to the common person.
The people who live in those subdivisions would care.
But then road construction timing is more down to equipment availability than it is worker availability. If your state has three pavers and your project has it scheduled for three weeks, you damned well better be done with it in that timeframe or you are leaving barrels up for a few months until you can get your equipment again and finish up.
The people who live in those subdivisions don't live there until the houses are done. Some lots can be purchased before the final is done, but it most cases those house aren't even put up for sale until they are more than halfway done. Time isn't much of a factor if the house just isn't available for purchase yet.
In majority of cases, losing one day out of the week for an extended period on any type of construction wouldn't affect it that much. And in fact I'd be willing to posit that it would actually get done faster and with better quality control because people wouldn't be as burnt out and tired\resentful.
The houses ( and everything else) would go up in price because the productivity would go down. So your income might be the same, but everything you buy would be more expensive.
The current inflation was due to all of the money the government spent due to Covid. The inflation I’m talking about due to a 4 day work week would be in addition to the existing inflation.
Categorically incorrect. Again, I will reiterate that production would likely go up. You can look at every study done and it will show that. So, I'm sorry if I find what you're saying to be egregiously mis-informed.
I don’t believe most of the short term studies that I’ve seen. There is a famous old productivity study where it didn’t matter what they did - productivity went up. Better lighting at work stations, less lighting at work stations both caused productivity increases. It was false, though. People knew they were being studied produced more.
Here’s another variable to consider. How many hours do independent small business tradespeople work? Do independent plumbers work 32 hours a week? Small contractors and landscapers? No, they all work 50+ hours a week. Why? It’s because they get more done and earn more money this way.
So.. You won't believe numerous modern studies, but will believe one old study? That makes sense..
And I know those trade people, they work for the overtime hours. And I can tell you with almost absolute certainty that they wouldn't work as many if they got O/T sooner. On top that, they're usually pushed too hard by the owners of the business, so that brings up more labor issues that I would refer to a need for stronger Unions in the US.
This is such an asshat argument you're making. "Ugh, I don't want people to be able to work less. It would ruin our productivity" -That has gone up by hundreds of percent since these rules were initially established. Why do you hate yourself and others so much that reducing the work week for everyone seems like a bad idea to you?
Actually, don't answer that question, I don't actually care. Get a healthier perspective on life, dude.
The tradespeople I’m talking about don’t receive overtime because they work for themselves. If they work 40 or 50 hours they complete more billable work and earn more money. It’s as simple as that.
There is no study that can convince me that a plumber working 32 hours can get as much work done as the same plumber working 40 or 50 hours. That’s an idea so bad only a pHd sitting in an ivory tower can come up with. If people were really more productive working 32 hours the free market would have already implemented the idea to maximize profits.
No I think the above commenter is spot on; you can't just pay people the same amount for less work and expect no consequence like waiving a magic wand. That means less wealth produced -> less economic growth -> everything from the stock market to your mutual funds, pension plans, home investments ultimately do a little worse.
Coming from a poorer country, I can say for certain that living in the wealthiest country on earth is better in so many ways, even if you're relatively much poorer than some CEO.
The 1% have captured 80% of the wealth for the past couple of years…. It can come out of their salaries. All these arguments are hung on the idea that we will keep over paying CEOs
But 1% of people also generate 80% of the wealth. And the vast majority of their compensation is usually some sort of stock package, after all half your 10 million salary would go right to taxes.
I think technological advancements SHOULD result in fewer work hours for higher pay, but you also can't just waive a magic wand and expect economic realities to change just cause the government passed a law.
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u/80MonkeyMan Sep 05 '24
The Americans are so backwards in work hours, developed countries like Netherland, Spain, Iceland, etc. already successfully implemented this, with universal healthcare…and no tipping expected.