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>> It's not technology, it's society. The notion of "working from 9 to 5 until 65" is a relatively recent construct brought on by the industrial revolution. I'
by markbnj 11y ago
>> It's not technology, it's society. The notion of "working from 9 to 5 until 65" is a relatively recent construct brought on by the industrial revolution.
I'll buy this if by "brought on by the industrial revolution" you mean "demanded by organized workers in response to the excesses of the industrial revolution." If it weren't for unions I don't think the 40 hour work week would be anything like the norm.
- GFK_of_xmaspast 11y agoIf not for unions it would be 'work from 7 to 7 until dead.'
- Delmania 11y agoIt's a bit more nuanced than that. Unions played a role most certainly, but so did some industrialists like George Johnson. I believe the term is welfare capitalism. But yes, the 40 hour work week was definitely put in place to ensure people weren't just worked to the bone and then discarded.