logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2021
18m 2s

The Case For A 4-Day Workweek

NPR
About this episode
The five-day workweek can feel as preordained as the number of minutes in an hour, but it hasn't always been the norm. Workers fought for a Monday-to-Friday schedule before it became standard in the U.S. in the 1930s. Since then, the nature of work has changed a lot, and now, workers are once again fighting for better conditions, says U.K.-based researcher Will Stronge.

In this episode, Stronge, who co-wrote the book Overtime: Why We Need a Shorter Working Week, discusses what has changed since the '30s and what a shorter workweek offers workers and organizations.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Nov 12
Life is easier with neighbors. Here’s how to get to know them
For some, being a good neighbor means staying quiet, picking up after your dog and keeping your lawn tidy. But David Burton, the founder of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, says that our neighbor relationships could and should be deeper. Neighbors can help us overcome social isolatio ... Show More
19m 5s
Nov 10
I got what I wanted. Why am I unhappy?
Sometimes achieving a goal is elating and feels like an accomplishment. Other times, it invites anxiety, deflation or even grief. Psychiatrist Pooja Lakshmin, author of the upcoming book Quantum Shifts: A Practical Framework for Navigating Life’s Biggest Changes, urges people to ... Show More
17m 4s
Nov 9
How to turn (almost) anything into a great soup
Soup can be a flexible, cozy meal that allows you to experiment in the kitchen. But to make a delicious one you need to get some fundamentals down first. Chef Sohla El-Waylly offers her best tips on everything from creating a yummy broth to ensuring you get your cook time right. ... Show More
17m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2022
Juliet Schor wants a four-day work week
Before labor unions fought for them, society didn’t have weekends as we know them. In the 13th century, the average male peasants in the UK only worked 135 days a year. In a post-pandemic and increasingly virtual world, what is the future of labor? Juliet Schor is an economist an ... Show More
38m 9s
Dec 2022
Who's Afraid of a Four-Day Work Week?
4 Day Week Global is a nonprofit organization that recently conducted a trial with 33 companies and 900 workers that replaced the typical five-day week with a four-day work week with no change in pay. After the six-month trial ended, 97 percent of employees who responded said the ... Show More
51m 1s
Aug 2023
The case for a 4-day work week | Juliet Schor
The traditional approach to work needs a redesign, says economist Juliet Schor. She's leading four-day work week trials in countries like the US and Ireland, and the results so far have been overwhelmingly positive: from increased employer and customer satisfaction to revenue gro ... Show More
16m 10s
Aug 2025
Why do We Still Need to Work?
A century ago, economist John Maynard Keynes confidently predicted that by 2030, we would only be working 15 hours a week. Yet, here we are—working harder than ever! While technology has dramatically boosted productivity, our work hours remain largely unchanged, and the prevalenc ... Show More
15m 56s
Aug 2022
Juliet Schor wants a four-day work week
Before labor unions fought for them, society didn’t have weekends as we know them. In the 13th century, the average male peasants in the UK only worked 135 days a year. In a post-pandemic and increasingly virtual world, what is the future of labor? Juliet Schor is an economist an ... Show More
37m 30s
Aug 2022
Juliet Schor wants a four-day work week
Before labor unions fought for them, society didn’t have weekends as we know them. In the 13th century, the average male peasants in the UK only worked 135 days a year. In a post-pandemic and increasingly virtual world, what is the future of labor? Juliet Schor is an economist an ... Show More
37m 30s
Jul 2024
Why Don't We Have a 15-hour Work Week?
By 2030 we'll only work 15 hours a week, predicted the legendary economist John Maynard Keynes back in 1930. He thought advances in technology and wealth would let us earn enough money to live in a day or two - leaving the rest of the week for leisure and community service.  How ... Show More
35m 21s
Jul 2021
90. Should the Weekend be Longer?: The Four Day Working Week (English Vocabulary Lesson)
Have you ever thought about why you work 5 days a week? Or 8 hours a day? Why are weekends only two days long? Research suggests that there could be real benefits to reducing employees working hours and shortening the working week. This episode is going to look at the history of ... Show More
21m 6s