Should the UK adopt a 4 day working week ?

lostinrates

Zelie wrote: »

She's laughing at you, dear. You and your crazy ideas. You're a right tonic on a grey day and a clever lad for coming to this thread to cheer us all up. Keep 'em coming. What's next?

Hang on a second....I'm not laughing at anybody, more gently amused at the lack of realism at the idea and the idea that 'non manual workers' could zip through their work load in four days with no change in workload/global expectation.

Tirano, as explained, my husband, and father too in fact, still work far longer hours than the standard 40 hour week. They are remunerated for this indeed, and its a chpice they make, but a choice some people in society HAVE to make to keep us ticking over.

tirano

Another Reason !

Long working hours may raise the risk of mental decline and possibly dementia

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7909464.stm

lynzpower

tirano wrote: »

Another Reason !

Long working hours may raise the risk of mental decline and possibly dementia

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7909464.stm

But other studies show that the longer you work especially "post retirement" wards off dementia and other conditions such as poor co-ordination and keeps the body & mind active.

Im sure wed all love to work less, after all we have the longest working hours in Europe. But also im sre that moneysavers wouldnt want to start seeing thier wages slashed to 4/5ths than for no other good reason that its "environmental"(. I dont buy this, its my view that when people have time off they generally consume- be it energy bills at home, phone calls etc etc!)

Cutting wages in this climate in companies like Ringos & the one I work at is crazy- we dont have enough hours in the day to do the work- cutting wagews would mean people having thier homes repod or cant pay thier bills. COME ON!

Jennifer_Jane

lostinrates wrote: »

Hang on a second....I'm not laughing at anybody, more gently amused at the lack of realism at the idea and the idea that 'non manual workers' could zip through their work load in four days with no change in workload/global expectation.

Tirano, as explained, my husband, and father too in fact, still work far longer hours than the standard 40 hour week. They are remunerated for this indeed, and its a chpice they make, but a choice some people in society HAVE to make to keep us ticking over.

At our Company too, the people who have laptops work their 5 day week as a minimum. They tend to log on (because they can...) at weekends and evenings, and also when they are travelling, that also lengthens their working day. Very flexible working week! What I've noticed about people who choose (and get paid for) a 4-day week, is that their jobs/targets don't change, they just don't get paid for 5 days, but they certainly work it.

Jen
x

lostinrates

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

At our Company too, the people who have laptops work their 5 day week as a minimum. They tend to log on (because they can...) at weekends and evenings, and also when they are travelling, that also lengthens their working day. Very flexible working week! What I've noticed about people who choose (and get paid for) a 4-day week, is that their jobs/targets don't change, they just don't get paid for 5 days, but they certainly work it.

Jen
x

LOL, if DH hasn't got his laptop on the blackberry gets him. There is no escape!:eek: :mad:

PasturesNew

I've worked a couple of jobs where it was a 4-day working week and a 3-day weekend.

Every weekend felt like a holiday.
I had one day/week when I could get things done (places open that were unavailable to me at weekends).
I felt happy and really refreshed all of the time.
My productivity was higher.

I wouldn't mind if it was 4-days of 9 hour days, or a reduction in working hours, but the issue with working is you're either working flat out every day and never getting to sit in the sun (it rains most weekends), or you don't have a job and can't enjoy a thing.

I've thought a 4-day norm would be good for ages. Firms don't have to work 4-day weeks, just people.

Spread the work about, let more people have a job.

lostinrates

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've thought a 4-day norm would be good for ages. Firms don't have to work 4-day weeks, just people.

Spread the work about, let more people have a job.

I love the idea PN, but in many cases firms ARE the people.

e.g. DH was working with a client whose HO was in a country where our Christmas is not recognised. Its a normal, working, business day. DH and the small team the client knows to call can't just not be available. They also can't just not be available if that client needs them in his working day but outside ours. If that client could buy a small to medium sized country and make or break your depatments income for a year, if he wants to speak to Mr lostinrates Mr lostinrates better bloody be available for him.

another example. Farmers....the cows need milking twice a day seven days a week...but hang on ...its the three day weekend, yippee! But not for the cows

And the self employed person with client contact...clients want your firm 6/7 days a week.....you can't afford to employ...

If you are your work, your skills or your person, its not as simple as it might seem for 'lower skilled' 'less individualised' work. Then you get a BIGGER divide in wealth as 'normal' 4 day workers are further priced out of life as their 'more skilled higher ranking' bosses expect remuneration for their, by necessity, longer working week.

MrFonzerelli

4 days work a week? What about the economy? Everyone should work 8 days a week, end of! :rolleyes:

tirano

MrFonzerelli wrote: »

4 days work a week? What about the economy? Everyone should work 8 days a week, end of!

How does that help the economy ? The world economy is contracting, by around 20%, reducing the working week by 20% should therefore have a neutral effect.

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

I love the idea PN, but in many cases firms ARE the people.

e.g. DH was working with a client whose HO was in a country where our Christmas is not recognised. Its a normal, working, business day. DH and the small team the client knows to call can't just not be available. They also can't just not be available if that client needs them in his working day but outside ours. If that client could buy a small to medium sized country and make or break your depatments income for a year, if he wants to speak to Mr lostinrates Mr lostinrates better bloody be available for him.

another example. Farmers....the cows need milking twice a day seven days a week...but hang on ...its the three day weekend, yippee! But not for the cows

And the self employed person with client contact...clients want your firm 6/7 days a week.....you can't afford to employ...

If you are your work, your skills or your person, its not as simple as it might seem for 'lower skilled' 'less individualised' work. Then you get a BIGGER divide in wealth as 'normal' 4 day workers are further priced out of life as their 'more skilled higher ranking' bosses expect remuneration for their, by necessity, longer working week.

You've quoted exceptions to the norm though. I am talking of everyday people, predominantly in offices/shops/similar jobs. People who aren't really paid that well so it all seems one hell of a drudge with no respite.

I can't expand further or I'd write 10 volumes here of explanation

We have a 5+2 week because that's the norm. There's really no need; if the mindshift can be made to 4+3 it can become the norm. In France the norm is to take August off, it's the norm.