About fifty years ago we dreamed about the coming of computers and technology. They were not a reality yet, but they were coming. We dreamed about living in a world when the computers and machines did all the work, and humans would be free to live a life of leisure.
Now the technology is here, the computers are here, right to the point that everyone has a computer in their hip pocket. Little did we guess back then.
Where is the leisure time that we imagined? The people who have jobs are working harder than ever. and now more than ever educated people are jobless. This isn’t how it was supposed to be. I knew a sawmill that employed thirty men, then they brought in new equipment, and hired only three men. Where are the others? Not happy, to be sure.
What should have happened? This is what is being proposed by knowledgeable thinkers and professors. It is time to decrease the work week. Now is the time to have a 32 hour work, down from 40 hours. Thus technology would help us share the burden, allowing us more time.
This is a proposal that has been out for awhile, but has been ignored. Now there have been a few experimental areas where it has been set up. What would you do with a three day weekend, every week? Think about that. Would you study, work in the garden, visit your friends more, spend more time with your children, take up new hobbies, play golf? Have you ever thought about what one could do with more time? No more “rush” to enjoy life. This actually a real question. Some people are so overwhelmed with work that they have never even thought about free time. It is truly an issue that people have to consider.
Of course there have been many objections to this idea from all sides. You say you can’t even live on one salary, let alone fewer hours. Think about it, less transportation, less income tax, fewer expenses on may things, there would have to be full benefits on a 32 hours week.
Employers, or course, complain that it wouldn’t be practical, let them cry. The are still making the same profit with three employees as they did before with thirty. This difference in expenses would easily pay for their capital costs. Small employers shouldn’t notice a difference, if it is too much, then it always was too much for them. Fair treatment of small employers is necessary, but mentioned in a previous blog.
Now is the time for the shorter work week to be addressed by political parties. Be sure to ask all of your candidates if they intend to bring up this issue. However, YOU are the ones who have to mention it first.
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