Bring Back the 40-Hour Work Week

Barbara, not Barbie writes with this quote from an article at AlterNet about how the average work week is becoming longer, and why that's not a good thing: "... overtime is only effective over very short sprints. This is because (as Sidney Chapman showed in 1909) daily productivity starts falling off in the second week, and declines rapidly with every successive week as burnout sets in. Without adequate rest, recreation, nutrition, and time off to just be, people get dull and stupid. They can't focus. They spend more time answering e-mail and goofing off than they do working. They make mistakes that they'd never make if they were rested; and fixing those mistakes takes longer because they're fried. Robinson writes that he's seen overworked software teams descend into a negative-progress mode, where they are actually losing ground week over week because they're so mentally exhausted that they're making more errors than they can fix. For every four Americans working a 50-hour week, every week, there's one American who should have a full-time job, but doesn't. Our rampant unemployment problem would vanish overnight if we simply worked the way we're supposed to by law. We will not turn this situation around until we do what our 19th-century ancestors did: confront our bosses, present them with the data, and make them understand that what they are doing amounts to employee abuse — and that abuse is based on assumptions that are directly costing them untold potential profits."

Comments

Keep the 80 Hour Work week. For my Sake.

[sheehaje]

Please... Don't listen to this drivel. I have kids and an angry wife at home. I want to be at work 80 hours a week.

Re:Meh

[Anonymous Coward]

Unionize? What? I make it clear when I start a job that I will not work over 40 hours a week unless it's a once or twice a year occurrence. If an employer doesn't like that then they're free not to hire me. Considering I just landed a new job after noting this in each of my 5 interviews with the company (and all of the other interviews I went on elsewhere which netted me 4 other job offers) it doesn't seem to be much of a problem in my industry.

There is also the point of getting your work done. I'm efficient and good at what I do. I worked over 300 projects last year and got them done on an average of -3 days of projected deadline. I missed one deadline in the entire year and that was due to external forces. If I can handle that kind of work and push out 99.9% error free stuff, who the fuck cares if I don't work 40+?

I have worked with plenty of inefficient people who spend a good chunk of their day socializing, taking 1+ hour lunches daily, or who simply aren't all that great at what they do. These are the people who seem to end up "just having to work 40+ hours to get it all done".

Stop fucking around and do your job and go home. Coupled with clear expectations at the outset we won't need to have articles like this one written.

Re:Keep the 80 Hour Work week. For my Sake.

[HapSlappy_2222]

Not married to an angry wife, are ya?

To the creature that is the angry wife, the ONLY justification for not being home, catering to her every wish, unloading the dishwasher, and cleaning the garage, because you're lucky to have her to cook shitty potatoes for you, buddy, is if you're out bringing in more money so she can buy more things for you to carry home for her. Any other activity is tantamount to infidelity. This is one of the major reasons my angry wife is now an angry ex-wife (which still sorta sucks but not nearly as badly).

I kid, but some people (of both sexes) really do live this way.

Re:Mandates are the issue

[Oswald McWeany]

You won't be able to celebrate your next birthday until you have reached a set list of objectives and accomplishments.

Under the new "pay-per-accomplishment schedule" birthdays will be measured as such:

1 - Must be able to walk before you are allowed to turn 1
2 - As soon as you can go a week without an accident or wearing a nappy/diaper you turn 2 years old (and have completed all requirements for ages above) ...etc...etc...

17 - you are not allowed to turn 17 until you lose your virginity. (and have completed all requirements for ages above)

18 - You are not allowed to turn 18 until you have completed 4 difficult video games(and have completed all requirements for ages above) ... etc... etc...

28 - you turn 28 years old when you get married (and have completed all requirements for ages above)

29- you don't turn 29 until you have a mortgage. (and have completed all requirements for ages above)

30- You are not allowed to turn until you have your first child (and have completed all requirements for ages above)

You get the idea... you turn 60 when you use preparation H on a daily basis.

Now age is entirely merit based and not on some silly time measurement.

Unfortunately most of slashdot is still 16.

Re:Meh

[Gilmoure]

Um... excuse me. 'Socialism' has the word 'Social' in it and that implies people working together and with other people. It's now the 21st C. and such things as 'civilization' are now passe and strictly for the lower classes. If you are going to get anywhere you need to become a loan wolf who's ready to do whatever is necessary to get ahead in life. And remember, if there's anyone who's doing better than your or is still happy, you haven't won and in fact are just a looser like everyone else. The most perfect example of new world success is the Frazetta picture of Conan the Barbarian standing on top of a pile of dead enemies, with a hot chick grabbing his leg so a little of his bodaciousness will rub of on her.

Anyone who believes otherwise is obviously one of those weaklings who think civilization and society are good things and that life is more than a zero sum game with a trajectory right to the bottom. /Thurston Howell III voice

Re:Spoken like someone who's never owned a busines

[X0563511]

Go back to your cubicle, little drone, and let the big boys ruin the world.

FTFY.

Re:Keep the 80 Hour Work week. For my Sake.

[HapSlappy_2222]

If he is, I truly and honestly wish him luck.

However things shake loose, he's welcome to apply for membership in the "She spread her legs for me!" club, currently 1500+ members strong. Free swab tests upon membership approval!

Bitter humor is the best kind.

Re:Keep the 80 Hour Work week. For my Sake.

[Trailer Park Boy]

Angry wives? I love that game!

Re:Keep the 80 Hour Work week. For my Sake.

[Provocateur]

40? How will I be able to keep up with Slashdot on such a short week?

Re:Keep the 80 Hour Work week. For my Sake.

[oldmac31310]

So that's the attraction with golf!