In recent years, many businesses—in fact, even entire countries have made significant moves toward the implementation of a four-day workweek.
With so much interest in a shift to a four-day workweek in recent years, it’s worth considering how we got to our current status quo. What’s so special about five days and 40 hours? Has this always been the norm?
In short, no!
Historical Background in the Industrial Era
The Industrial Revolution, which began in England and quickly spread to the United States, ushered in profound changes in workplace practices that led to massive increases in labor productivity.
As they sought to maximize profits, businesses began to demand longer and longer hours from workers. In fact, at about the turn of the 20th century, it was common for most Americans to work 60 or more hours a week—not just for factory workers, but also for domestic and farm laborers.
Henry Ford – An Unlikely Boon to Labor
American businessman and founder of the Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford, is often credited with ushering in the age of the 40-hour workweek. Indeed, Ford’s adoption of a five-day, 40-hour week set a precedent that many other American companies would adopt.
But Ford was hardly acting altruistically. He was actually trying to address massive turnover in his factories. In addition, he also wanted the working class to have time and money to become more active consumers of goods—most notable, his cars.
While Ford gets a lot of credit, the eight-hour workday had much earlier advocates. As early as the early 19th century, Welsh industrialist Robert Owen famously called for “eight hours labor, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest.” Seems like a logical way to split up the day.
Fair Labor Standards Act
While Ford’s move influenced many businesses, it wasn’t until President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his labor secretary (and the first female cabinet member) Francis Perkins shepherded the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in 1938.
That’s when the 40-hour workweek became law. An initial cap of 44 hours of work each week was shortened to 40 by 1940). This has remained the standard up to the present day—85 years later.
The five-day, 40-hour workweek has been the standard for nearly a century, shaped by industrial demands, labor activism, and economic strategy.
What Work Week Makes the Most Sense—for You?
However, with changing work dynamics, technological advancements, and growing interest in work-life balance, many are questioning whether this structure still makes sense.
As businesses and policymakers explore alternatives like the four-day workweek, it’s worth remembering that our current system was itself a product of change—and may not be the final evolution of the modern work schedule.
It’s really not a one-size-fits-all proposition. What work week makes the most sense for you and your employees? Does it vary by division, department, or role? How can you make the best choices to balance employee satisfaction and productivity?
Lin Grensing-Pophal is a Contributing Editor at HR Daily Advisor.
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