News1 min ago
Would You Prefer A 21 Hour "normal" Work Week?
35 Answers
"A ‘normal’ working week of 21 hours could help to address a range of urgent, interlinked problems: overwork, unemployment, over-consumption, high carbon emissions, low well-being, entrenched inequalities, and the lack of time to live sustainably, to care for each other, and simply to enjoy life."
Source: http:// www.new economi cs.org/ publica tions/e ntry/21 -hours
It sounds like a nice idea, reduce the amount of time people work, improve mental and physical well-being of the populace and the knock-on financial effects...
But could it work? Are we too tied to the "protestant work ethic" and capitalism to make this work?
Thoughts?
Source: http://
It sounds like a nice idea, reduce the amount of time people work, improve mental and physical well-being of the populace and the knock-on financial effects...
But could it work? Are we too tied to the "protestant work ethic" and capitalism to make this work?
Thoughts?
Answers
it wouldn't bring the cost of living down directly, as far as I can see. If I want a new door and it takes 40 hours to build one, I'd either wait twice as long or I'd pay two people half-wages to do what would previously have been done by one person on full wages. The savings might come in the fact that I'd no longer be paying the second one the dole for doing nothing and I...
12:09 Tue 10th Sep 2013
I can see the attraction. For years I worked far too many hours , normally I did 2 jobs. I was doing up to 60 hours a week in my main job and another 20 or so in a second job. Now I am semi retired and live on a small pension plus pension credit. With the benefits included ( I pay no rent or council tax, get free dental treatment , bus pass, train pass etc) I am very little worse off. A big bonus is that get far more time to help the family, with 5 kids and 12 grandchildren I am always busy. I fact I don't know how I ever had time to work full time. ps I even get a discount on fish and chips from the local chippy every Thursday.
It is difficult to imagine how some people could spend more time on here ..........
I think some people would have difficulty in stimulating their minds with fewer working hours. How would people occupy themselves in their extra time? Most folk working a full time week don't realise how easy they have it now compared to generations ago. I have no doubt that many would still moan if they had a five day weekend.
I think some people would have difficulty in stimulating their minds with fewer working hours. How would people occupy themselves in their extra time? Most folk working a full time week don't realise how easy they have it now compared to generations ago. I have no doubt that many would still moan if they had a five day weekend.
Some question the benefits of doing this at all. Here's two:
* More time with family helps build a better society. How often do you hear (in response to some horrible news story): "I blame the parents" or "where are the parents in all this". Usually the answer is they're slogging away at a coalface of some sort...
* Reduced costs to the state. With a shorter work week there is more jobs to go around, those who can work will work because they'll be able to secure a place - which means less unemployment benefit. Additionally retirement can be much easier delayed for those who wish to, saving the state even more cash in the long run.
There are others.... but I won't post them because I think that is where the NEF has gone for a bit of wishful thinking.
* More time with family helps build a better society. How often do you hear (in response to some horrible news story): "I blame the parents" or "where are the parents in all this". Usually the answer is they're slogging away at a coalface of some sort...
* Reduced costs to the state. With a shorter work week there is more jobs to go around, those who can work will work because they'll be able to secure a place - which means less unemployment benefit. Additionally retirement can be much easier delayed for those who wish to, saving the state even more cash in the long run.
There are others.... but I won't post them because I think that is where the NEF has gone for a bit of wishful thinking.
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