Who created the 40 hour work week, when and most importantly...?

Question

why?

Answer 1

(a) Employees engaged in interstate commerce; additional applicability to employees pursuant to subsequent amendatory provisions
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no employer shall employ any of his employees who in any workweek is engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, or is employed in an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, for a workweek longer than forty hours unless such employee receives compensation for his employment in excess of the hours above specified at a rate not less than one and one-half times the regular rate at which he is employed.
(2) No employer shall employ any of his employees who in any workweek is engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, or is employed in an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, and who in such workweek is brought within the purview of this subsection by the amendments made to this chapter by the Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1966—
(A) for a workweek longer than forty-four hours during the first year from the effective date of the Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1966,
(B) for a workweek longer than forty-two hours during the second year from such date, or
(C) for a workweek longer than forty hours after the expiration of the second year from such date,
unless such employee receives compensation for his employment in excess of the hours above specified at a rate not less than one and one-half times the regular rate at which he is employed.
US Code Collection TITLE 29 > CHAPTER 8 > § 207

Answer 2

The idea that unions had anything to do with the creation of the 40 hour work-week is wrong. Henry Ford created it in an effort to attract the best employees. Many companies fell into line after that. Even further after that, government and unions got involved, but only after it was a moot point.

Answer 3

The United Auto Workers. I believe 1934, or then abouts. The idea was 1/3 work, 1/3 sleep, 1/3 life. The UAW also claims to be "The People who brought you The Weekend" which is true to a certain extent. Prior to the UAW's "Sit Down Strike" at GM's Flint works, the normal work week was six days, with Sunday to rest (...like it says in the Bible). Everybody took off on Sundays. There used be laws (and still are in the east and south) mandating businesses be closed on Sunday.

Answer 4

the 40-hour work week was probably first established in 1938 with the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which also set the minimum wage at (back then) $0.25 per hour, as well as a threshold for when overtime pay began.

as for the "why" prior to this legislation, employers were taking advantage of their employees, abusing them by having them work an ungodly number of hours for an unreasonably low wage.

Answer 5

Believe it or not, the labor unions negotiated the 40 hr. work week so that people wouldn't be overworked. They also played a significant role in the adoption of a minimum wage. Prior to that, employers could pay whatever they felt.

Answer 6

My guess that it is the result of the industrial revolution and the unions' efforts to eliminate sweat shops, so the forty hour work week was instituted. Now it's the 38 hour work week where I work.

Answer 7

they were called slave owners in the south and since they couldn't work their property 24/7 due to the civil war they changed it to the 40 hour week.

Answer 8

I dont knwo cause I have a 35 hr work week and work in not for profit

Answer 9

i dont know who did but they should have their behind kicked