4 ms·

No, we shouldn't. Most people are totally fine with it, me included. Why change something that works? There are always people not satisfied with the current sys

No, we shouldn't. Most people are totally fine with it, me included. Why change something that works? There are always people not satisfied with the current system, but for the majority of our society, the 40 hours a week model is fine. And if it isn't, there are plenty of other options - maybe you have to look harder for them, but it's definitly possible to work on different schedules, too.

em3rgent0rdr 10y ago
it "works" is a very subjective and low threshold of efficiency. It works in that people struggle to deal with it. The average american has to commute 5 days a week through horrendous traffic (which saturates the traffic grid), because of people who insist that we need to obey the 40-hour week because "it works".
maxerickson 10y ago
We absolutely should get rid of the idea that a "full time" job has benefits and stuff. Compensation should stay about the same, it just shouldn't come in the form of benefits.
- aero142 10y ago
  Just to be clear. The reason this happens is because insurers like groups that don't have terrible self selection biases towards sick people. Buying insurance as an individual means the insurance company is worried you are a soon to be expense.
  - maxerickson 10y ago
    There are also tax advantages. And it makes overtime cheaper by moving some of the base compensation out of the hourly wage.
  - cr1895 10y ago
    >Buying insurance as an individual means the insurance company is worried you are a soon to be expense. Really worth noting that this is a non-issue in many (most?) countries with healthcare systems that function differently from that in the US.
minikites 10y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_quo_bias https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_quo_bias > The current baseline (or status quo) is taken as a reference point, and any change from that baseline is perceived as a loss.
JDiculous 10y ago
Just because it "works" doesn't mean it can't be improved.

em3rgent0rdr 10y ago

it "works" is a very subjective and low threshold of efficiency. It works in that people struggle to deal with it. The average american has to commute 5 days a week through horrendous traffic (which saturates the traffic grid), because of people who insist that we need to obey the 40-hour week because "it works".

maxerickson 10y ago

We absolutely should get rid of the idea that a "full time" job has benefits and stuff. Compensation should stay about the same, it just shouldn't come in the form of benefits.

aero142 10y ago
Just to be clear. The reason this happens is because insurers like groups that don't have terrible self selection biases towards sick people. Buying insurance as an individual means the insurance company is worried you are a soon to be expense.
- maxerickson 10y ago
  There are also tax advantages. And it makes overtime cheaper by moving some of the base compensation out of the hourly wage.
- cr1895 10y ago
  >Buying insurance as an individual means the insurance company is worried you are a soon to be expense. Really worth noting that this is a non-issue in many (most?) countries with healthcare systems that function differently from that in the US.

minikites 10y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_quo_bias https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_quo_bias > The current baseline (or status quo) is taken as a reference point, and any change from that baseline is perceived as a loss.

JDiculous 10y ago

Just because it "works" doesn't mean it can't be improved.