Editing Working time (section)

== History ==
{{Expand section|date=June 2021}}
[[File:8hoursday banner 1856.jpg|thumb|Eight-hour day banner, [[Melbourne]], 1856]]
[[File:1906 - Grève pour les 8 heures.jpg|thumb|1906 – strike for the 8 working hours per day in [[France]]]]

The [[Industrial Revolution]] made it possible for a larger segment of the population to work year-round, because this labor was not tied to the season and artificial [[lighting]] made it possible to work longer each day. [[Peasants]] and farm laborers moved from rural areas to work in urban [[factory|factories]], and working time during the year increased significantly.<ref name="Schor1991">[[Juliet Schor]] (1991) ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=E1clEkV_1w8C The Overworked American]'', pp. 43–seq, excerpt: ''[http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/users/rauch/worktime/hours_workweek.html Pre-industrial workers had a shorter workweek than today's]''</ref> Before [[collective bargaining]] and [[Labour law|worker protection laws]], there was a financial incentive for a company to maximize the return on expensive machinery by having long hours. Records indicate that work schedules as long as twelve to sixteen hours per day, six to seven days per week were practiced in some industrial sites.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

Over the 20th century, work hours shortened by almost half, partly due to rising wages brought about by renewed economic growth and competition for skilled workers, with a supporting role from [[trade unions]], [[collective bargaining]], and [[Progressive movement|progressive]] legislation. The workweek, in most of the industrialized world, dropped steadily, to about 40 hours after [[World War II]]. The limitation of working hours is also proclaimed by the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]],<ref>[[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]], 24</ref> [[International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights]],<ref>[[International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights]], Article 7</ref> and [[European Social Charter]].<ref>[[European Social Charter]], Article 2</ref> The decline continued at a faster pace in Europe: for example, [[France]] adopted a [[35-hour workweek]] in 2000. In 1995, China adopted a 40-hour week, eliminating half-day work on Saturdays (though this is not widely practiced). Working hours in industrializing economies like [[South Korea]], though still much higher than the leading industrial countries, are also declining steadily.

Technology has also continued to improve worker [[productivity]], permitting standards of living to rise as hours decline.<ref>{{Cite FTP |url=ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/opt/lpr/histmfgsic.zip |server=ftp.bls.gov |url-status=dead |title=FTP link }}</ref> In developed economies, as the time needed to manufacture goods has declined, more working hours have become available to provide [[Service (economics)|services]], resulting in a shift of much of the workforce between sectors.

Economic growth in monetary terms tends to be concentrated in health care, education, government, criminal justice, corrections, and other activities rather than those that contribute directly to the production of material goods.{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}}

In the mid-2000s, the [[Netherlands]] was the first country in the industrialized world where the overall average working week dropped to less than 30 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/ewco/studies/tn0803046s/nl0803049q.htm |title=Working time in the European Union: the Netherlands |publisher=Eurofound.europa.eu |access-date=2014-07-14}}</ref>

=== Gradual decrease ===
{{See also|Six-hour day}}
[[File:US work week - GDP - GPI.jpg|thumb|Weekly working hours in US manufacturing (blue)]]
Most countries in the developed world have seen average hours worked decrease significantly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/document.asp?ref_id=ip1273 |title=Insee – Travail-Emploi – Soixante ans de réduction du temps de travail dans le monde |publisher=Insee.fr |access-date=2014-07-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lorraine.direccte.gouv.fr/evolution-de-la-duree-du-travail-en-france-et-dans-le-monde |title=Evolution de la durée du travail en France et dans le monde – Direccte |publisher=Lorraine.direccte.gouv.fr |access-date=2014-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502004731/http://www.lorraine.direccte.gouv.fr/evolution-de-la-duree-du-travail-en-france-et-dans-le-monde |archive-date=2014-05-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For example, in the U.S in the late 19th century it was estimated that the average work week was over 60 hours per week.<ref name=EH>{{cite web
 | title = Hours of Work in U.S. History
 | date = 2010-02-01
 | url = http://eh.net/encyclopedia/hours-of-work-in-u-s-history/
 | publisher = Economic History Association
}}</ref> Today the average hours worked in the U.S. is around 33,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bsu.edu/ibb/us/emp/emp2.htm |title=United States Average Weekly Hours |publisher=Bsu.edu |access-date=2014-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210211636/http://www.bsu.edu/ibb/us/emp/emp2.htm |archive-date=2014-12-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with the average man employed full-time for 8.4 hours per work day, and the average woman employed full-time for 7.9 hours per work day.<ref name="American Time Use Survey Summary">{{cite web |url=http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm |title=American Time Use Survey Summary |publisher=Bls.gov |date=2017-06-27 |access-date=2018-06-06}}</ref>
The front runners for lowest average weekly work hours are the [[Netherlands]] with 27 hours,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gapminder.org/world/#$majorMode=chart$is;shi=t;ly=2003;lb=f;il=t;fs=11;al=30;stl=t;st=t;nsl=t;se=t$wst;tts=C$ts;sp=5.59290322580644;ti=2007$zpv;v=0$inc_x;mmid=XCOORDS;iid=phAwcNAVuyj1jiMAkmq1iMg;by=ind$inc_y;mmid=YCOORDS;iid=rdCufG2vozTpKw7TBGbyoWw;by=ind$inc_s;uniValue=8.21;iid=phAwcNAVuyj0XOoBL_n5tAQ;by=ind$inc_c;uniValue=255;gid=CATID0;by=grp$map_x;scale=log;dataMin=295;dataMax=79210$map_y;scale=lin;dataMin=26;dataMax=56$map_s;sma=49;smi=2.65$cd;bd=0$inds=i156_t002007 |title=Gapminder World |publisher=Gapminder.org |access-date=2014-07-14}}</ref> and [[France]] with 30 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gapminder.org/world/#$majorMode=chart$is;shi=t;ly=2003;lb=f;il=t;fs=11;al=30;stl=t;st=t;nsl=t;se=t$wst;tts=C$ts;sp=5.59290322580644;ti=2007$zpv;v=0$inc_x;mmid=XCOORDS;iid=phAwcNAVuyj1jiMAkmq1iMg;by=ind$inc_y;mmid=YCOORDS;iid=rdCufG2vozTpKw7TBGbyoWw;by=ind$inc_s;uniValue=8.21;iid=phAwcNAVuyj0XOoBL_n5tAQ;by=ind$inc_c;uniValue=255;gid=CATID0;by=grp$map_x;scale=log;dataMin=295;dataMax=79210$map_y;scale=lin;dataMin=26;dataMax=56$map_s;sma=49;smi=2.65$cd;bd=0$inds=i76_t002007 |title=Gapminder World |publisher=Gapminder.org |access-date=2014-07-14}}</ref> In a 2011 report of 26 [[OECD]] countries, Germany had the lowest average working hours per week at 25.6 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/29/12816364-countries-where-people-work-least |title=Countries where people work least |publisher=nbcnews.com |date=2012 |access-date=2015-02-09}}</ref>

The [[New Economics Foundation]] has recommended moving to a 21-hour standard work week to address problems with unemployment, high carbon emissions, low well-being, entrenched inequalities, overworking, family care, and the general lack of free time.<ref name="nef21">{{cite book|last1=Coote|first1=Anna|last2=Franklin|first2=Jane|last3=Simms|first3=Andrew|title=21 hours: Why a shorter working week can help us all to flourish in the 21st century|url=http://neweconomics.org/page/-/files/21_Hours.pdf|publisher=New Economics Foundation|access-date=18 October 2016|ref=nef21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209144546/http://b.3cdn.net/nefoundation/f49406d81b9ed9c977_p1m6ibgje.pdf|archive-date=9 February 2016|location=London|date=February 2010|isbn=9781904882701}}</ref><ref name=guardian>Stuart, H. (January 7, 2012) [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/jan/08/cut-working-week-urges-thinktank "Cut the working week to a maximum of 20 hours, urge top economists"] ''The Guardian''</ref><ref name=gam>Schachter, H. (February 10, 2012) [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/management/morning-manager/save-the-world-with-a-3-day-work-week/article2332609/ "Save the world with a 3-day work week"] ''Globe and Mail''</ref> Bill Schaninger writing for [[McKinsey & Company]] has put forward a similar proposal of a 20-hour workweek.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/email/rethink/2022/03/092022-03-09d.html |title= Re:think: The 20-hour workweek - McKinsey & Company |last= Schaninger |first= Bill |website= mckinsey.com |publisher= McKinsey & Company |access-date= 13 December 2023}}</ref> Others, such as the historian [[Rutger Bregman]], have argued that a 15-hour work week is reachable by 2030 and British sociologist Peter Fleming has proposed a three-day work-week.<ref>{{cite news |last= Veal |first= Anthony |date= 24 December 2018 |title= It's time to put the 15-hour work week back on the agenda |url= https://theconversation.com/its-time-to-put-the-15-hour-work-week-back-on-the-agenda-106754 |work= The Conversation |access-date= 13 December 2023}}</ref> Actual work week lengths have been falling in the developed world.<ref name=gapminder>Gapminder Foundation (2011) [http://www.gapminder.org/world/#$majorMode=chart$is;shi=t;ly=2003;lb=f;il=t;fs=11;al=30;stl=t;st=t;nsl=t;se=t$wst;tts=C$ts;sp=5.59290322580644;ti=2007$zpv;v=0$inc_x;mmid=XCOORDS;iid=phAwcNAVuyj1jiMAkmq1iMg;by=ind$inc_y;mmid=YCOORDS;iid=rdCufG2vozTpKw7TBGbyoWw;by=ind$inc_s;uniValue=8.21;iid=phAwcNAVuyj0XOoBL_n5tAQ;by=ind$inc_c;uniValue=255;gid=CATID0;by=grp$map_x;scale=log;dataMin=295;dataMax=79210$map_y;scale=lin;dataMin=26;dataMax=56$map_s;sma=49;smi=2.65$cd;bd=0$inds=i239_t001980,,,,;i156_t001987,,,,;i168_t001980,,,,;i110_t001980,,,,;i117_t001980,,,,;i143_t001990,,,,;i238_t001980,,,, "Gapminder World" graph of working hours per week plotted against purchasing power- and inflation-adjusted GDP per capita over time] ''gapminder.org''</ref>

Factors that have contributed to lowering average work hours and increasing [[standard of living]] have been:
* [[Productivity improving technologies (historical)|Technological advances in efficiency]] such as [[mechanization]], [[robotics]] and [[information technology]].
* More women participating in the workforce and fewer [[homemaker]]s
* Dropping fertility rates leading to fewer children needing support

Recent articles<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,878936-1,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715061100/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,878936-1,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 15, 2010 | magazine=Time | title=Business: On the Way to a Four-Day Week | date=1971-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Janice Peterson |url=http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_e5e96c0c-7ee6-5787-b46f-c8ac9990c440.html |title=Study finds four-day work week optimal |publisher=Heraldextra.com |date=2008-06-09 |access-date=2011-01-31 |archive-date=2011-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616054908/http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_e5e96c0c-7ee6-5787-b46f-c8ac9990c440.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> supporting a [[four-day week]] have argued that reduced work hours would increase consumption and invigorate the economy. However, other articles state that consumption would decrease, which could reduce the environmental impact.<ref>{{cite web |author=Anders Hayden  |url=http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/06/11-5 |title=Working Less for a Sustainable Future |publisher=CommonDreams.com |date=2012-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | work=book |title=Sharing the Work, Sparing the Planet|isbn = 1896357288|last1=Hayden|first1=Anders|year=1999|publisher=Zed Books }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autonomy.work/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/The-Ecological-Limits-of-Work-final.pdf|title=The Ecological Limits of Work: on carbon emissions, carbon budgets and working time.|last=Frey|first=Philipp|date=2019|website=Autonomy Research|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref> Other arguments for the four-day week include improvements to workers' level of education (due to having extra time to take classes and courses) and improvements to workers' health (less work-related stress and extra time for exercise). Reduced hours also save money on [[day care]] costs and transportation, which in turn helps the environment with less carbon-related emissions. These benefits increase [[workforce productivity]] on a per-hour basis.