Of course, if local governments implement a four-day workweek, they might force businesses in the area to do the same. Can't have the investor class making marginally less money.
A lot of companies have seen increased productivity and lower expenses by switching to a 4 day work week. It's not about money, it's about control. If it were about money these companies would be jumping at the opportunity to let employees work from home. Just think of how much money they could save in office rent alone, not to mention things like electric and water bills, internet, maintenance employees, janitors, etc. Letting people work from home could increase profits by eliminating a major expense.
But they're fighting tooth and nail against both WFH and the 4 day work week.
If it were about money these companies would be jumping at the opportunity to let employees work from home.
But the office is four years into a ten year lease, so any savings will end up being some other manager's bonus. Right now I need everyone to be in the office to attend my pizza party because that's what you're getting instead of a raise.
- Middle Management
You dramatically overestimate how much of a fuck they give about you if you seriously think they're passing up increased profits purely because they feel some villainous need to exert extra control over your life. They do not care about you. They do not care about their workers. They do not care about the consumer.
The only thing they give a shit about is their profits and how to maximize them.
We constantly hear them going off about how people with WFH aren't working as hard, if at all. There are always wealthy fucks throwing shade at the 4 day work week as nothing but worker greed. They never believe the studies, because we're living in an age where fucks like that will gladly ignore solid research and documented studies because they "feel" like it's wrong.
And really, which is actually easier to believe? That some old fart who thinks his workers are all slackers anyway thinks that letting them work unsupervised at home will let them just do the bare minimum amount of work? Or some cabal of C-suite executives forgoing their own pay raise and bonus because they hate the idea that you might be comfortable while you work?
Well yes and no.
A big reason for the 40 hr week (and the main barrier to Universal Basic Income, although advocates deny it) is that the ruling class need people to simply be occupied and doing something.
If lots of people have lots of free time, they get all sorts of ideas about how society should be, and start protesting and stuff .
Can’t have that .
The reality is they would probably make more. Greater productivity, lower electric bills, stuff like that.
That's not even the point, lots of companies have successfully implemented the 100-80-100 model (the last 100 meaning the company sees the same profit). The point is making workers too tired to notice the oligarchs' scam.
I can tell you right now that I do fuck all on a Friday anyway. May as well give me the day off.
The English peasantry has to be reminded of their place in society!
Council's are understaffed and underpaid, a four day week could easily be the new pay rise.
We all know damn well the four day week inevitably comes with a pay cut. Big business won't cede anything without getting theirs back.
Still all for it. Four day workweeks are better for the environment and mental health.
Understaffed... How does the 4 day week help resolve that?
It's much easier to attract talent when you offer a 4day work week.
I feel like, he's afraid?
When people work less they have time to demand more.
Know your place! Peasants!
. . . and pick that up.
We should have been on 3 day work weeks for decades by now.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The guidance appears to be the latest salvo in a war of words between the government and South Cambridgeshire district council, which is believed to be the only English authority so far to have experimented with a four-day week.
The council has said its continuing trial of the practice, in which office staff and bin collectors are paid the same for working 20% fewer hours, has already helped it improve recruitment and led to over £500,000 in savings on agency workers.
Supporters of the four-day week have called it a win-win for workers and employers because it improves staff wellbeing and productivity.
The guidance says: “Councils which are undertaking four-day working week activities should cease immediately and others should not seek to pursue in any format.
Cllr Pete Marland, chair of the Local Government Association’s resources board, said: “More than nine in 10 councils are experiencing staff recruitment and retention difficulties across a diverse range of skills, professions and occupations.
They should be free to pilot innovative solutions to address local challenges and deliver crucial services to their residents.
The original article contains 545 words, the summary contains 179 words. Saved 67%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
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