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
Yesterday
Shop less and save more with a 'no-buy challenge'
If you're struggling to save for long-term goals, find yourself lost in a sea of clutter or are concerned about consumerism and climate change, there are ways to curb your shopping habits. This episode, journalist Stacey Vanek Smith talks to writers, influencers and activists in ... Show More
20m 36s
Apr 28
Explosive power: exercises to boost mobility and prevent injury
Explosive power is the ability to generate a lot of force quickly. It combines strength and speed. We use it in our daily lives to walk up stairs, stand up from a chair, catch ourselves when we stumble, and play sports. In this episode: specific exercises to train for explosive p ... Show More
18m 8s
Apr 27
You don't have to use dating apps. But if you do - some tips!
If you use dating apps, you'll know that they often suck. They're not the only way to find a romantic connection, but if you want to use them, we have tips. Here's one: When you match with someone, try to hop on a video call as soon as possible. You can think of it as a pre-inter ... Show More
23m 32s
Recommended Episodes
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
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
Jun 2022
Has hybrid working made it harder to take time off sick?
This week, host Isabel Berwick is joined by Emma Jacobs, author of one of the Financial Times’s most read features on the workplace this year: “The end of sick days: has WFH made it harder to take time off?” Along with fellow Working It regular Brooke Masters, the FT’s US investm ... Show More
16m 47s
Jan 2025
Thursday Planning Magic: Transform Your Week
Scott Smith reveals his proven system for creating the perfect work week. Drawing from years of experience, he shares how he transformed from being dragged around by his schedule to mastering it through a unique Thursday planning approach and strict time boundaries. Featured Sto ... Show More
12m 8s
Apr 2021
64. Daylight Savings Time!: Why do we change our time in the summer? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
On the final Sunday of March, the UK and many other European countries adjust their time forward by one hour. This is known as Daylight Savings Time, or Summer time, and is designed to give people more hours of sunlight during the summer months. In this episode of Thinking in Eng ... Show More
20m 26s
Sep 2024
Combien de retraités continuent de travailler ?
<p>La retraite ne signifie pas toujours une rupture avec le monde professionnel. En effet, une étude de L'insee révèle que 13 % des retraités continuent de travailler. Ils intègrent alors le dispositif "cumul emploi retraite", qui leur permet, dans certaines conditions, d'ajouter ... Show More
2m 11s
May 2025
I Took My Boss to Therapy
This is a classic session, from the second season of How's Work? From day one, they’ve described their relationship as “tumultuous," but there are highs as well as lows. One is new to the work force, the other is new to this particular work place. One manages the other. And while ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 2024
The Shrinking Construction Workforce
<p>On today’s show we are talking about the shortage of construction workers that has been widely reported.  </p> <p>From our vantage point, we are seeing a number of contradictory facts. There is a shortage of workers in many of the trades. At the same time, we know of workers w ... Show More
5m 38s