The full working week should be cut to 21 hours

Graham_Devon

Says a left-wing thinktank.

The working week should be cut to 21 hours to help boost the economy and improve quality of life, a left-wing think tank has said.
The New Economics Foundation claimed in a report the reduction in hours would help to ease unemployment and overwork.
The think tank said people were working longer hours now than 30 years ago even though unemployment was at 2.5 million.

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8513783.stm

Are these guys completely off their rockers?

Who's actually paying for such stupid research?

They seem to have completely missed the problem of something called paying bills.

I'm going to suggest such reasearchers should have their hours cut to nothing.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Are these guys completely off their rockers?

.

Ummmmmm........

a left-wing think tank

I take it that was a rhetorical question Graham?

pelirocco

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Says a left-wing thinktank.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8513783.stm

Are these guys completely off their rockers?

Who's actually paying for such stupid research?

They seem to have completely missed the problem of something called paying bills.

I'm going to suggest such reasearchers should have their hours cut to nothing.

Well to be fair it could cut unemployment and overwork , I doubt they were instructed to research anymore then that :rotfl:

chucky

it's a romantic idea that could maybe work in communist russia but not the best idea for the UK

Radiantsoul

Maybe if the internet were banned at work we might be able to do 20 hour weeks.

Radiantsoul

Well hours of work were much higher at the start of the century and you could argue that future productivity increases might be split between shorter hours and higher wages.

lilac_lady

Many people working full time do a 21 hour week although they attend work for 40 hours. Step forward MSE users who log in and post at work.............:-)

Graham_Devon

lilac_lady wrote: »

Many people working full time do a 21 hour week although they attend work for 40 hours. Step forward MSE users who log in and post at work.............:-)

This is ture.

However, not every job revolves round a factory line where every minute of work = higher output.

What for instance would you suggest a tech support guy does if he has spent time creating protocols and infrastructure which means problems are less frequent and the phone hasn't rung for 10 mins?

He / She has to be there.

What about a shop worker who has the internet in front of them and no customers and the shop is all fine. What should they do?

Radiantsoul

lilac_lady wrote: »

Many people working full time do a 21 hour week although they attend work for 40 hours. Step forward MSE users who log in and post at work.............:-)

You just copied my idea!

JP45

Maybe I'm being overly cynical but I can't help thinking this is yet another example of an organisation seeking free publicity by publishing a radical proposal which the media then slavishly report.

The proposal was debated on Radio 4's Today programme this morning, with Anna Coote from the New Economics Foundation versus a spokesman from the Institute of Economic Affairs. As the latter pointed out, we already have a large and growing number of employees who have opted to work part-time for a better work:life balance.

The answer, if we're concerned about improving work:life balance, is to extend the opportunities for employees to switch to part-time working wherever practicable. But to suggest, as the NEF does, that everyone be limited to a 21 hour working week with a massive loss of income is just barking mad.

Radiantsoul

JP45 wrote: »

Maybe I'm being overly cynical but I can't help thinking this is yet another example of an organisation seeking free publicity by publishing a radical proposal which the media then slavishly report.

The proposal was debated on Radio 4's Today programme this morning, with Anna Coote from the New Economics Foundation versus a spokesman from the Institute of Economic Affairs. As the latter pointed out, we already have a large and growing number of employees who have opted to work part-time for a better work:life balance.

Think Tanks have to get publicity and influence the debate and the reporting is somewhat sensationalists too. It seems there report is not really suggesting an overnight change. I think it is highly likely the working week will shorten or holidays increase, it seems that the labour market is becoming more flexible.