2007-01-20 00:18:14 · 16 answers · asked by devonlad06 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
You could also ask why a seven-day week. That is quite arbitrary.
The USSR - 5-day week, 6-day week
The Soviet Union introduced a 5-day week in 1929-30, with one day off each week (not a fixed day). In 1931 it became 6 days, with a fixed day of rest. A return to the 7-day week came in 1940.
Four-day working week, 10 hours a day
The Global Ideas bank lists pros and cons of a four-day working week with 10-hour shifts. Some companies in the US now allow or insist upon this working pattern. The details of a four-day week and three-day week schedule are listed by the US Office for Personnel Management.
Four-day working week, 8 hours a day
There is an online petition for a four-day working week, 8 hours a day at iPetitions.
France - 35-hour working week
France limited its working week to 35 hours in 2000, extending it to include companies of fewer than 20 workers in 2002. The result was commonly that workers would work those hours in a four-day week, taking the Friday or Monday off as a long weekend. The 35-hour week was relaxed in 2005 to allow up to 13 hours overtime (up to the EU limit of 48 hours).
Three-day week
A three-day working week was introduced in the UK in 1974 during a "state of emergency" due to energy shortages brought about by an overtime ban by the National Union of Mineworkers.
An Indian newspaper, The Hindu Business Line, has proposed a three-day week to alleviate unemployment.
Work vs rest
3/7 = 43% rest
2/7 = 29% rest
1/5 = 20% rest
1/6 = 17% rest
1/7 = 14% rest
History of labour struggle
Workers often had to work six days a week, 12-14 hours a day. From 1810 Robert Owen was the originator of the "Short Time Movement", originally calling for a 10-hour working day, and then an 8-hour working day.
2007-01-20 05:42:35 · answer #1 · answered by Fences and windows 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isn't there another country where people do that? I can't remember which one. I would rather work 3 12-hour days and have the rest of the week off. That way you would work your a** off for 3 days and then chill for 4. That would be awesome. Thats only 36 hours but if you work all 36 they should pay you for 40. EDIT: Oh yeah, and you should get a week paid vacation once a month.
2016-05-24 00:23:01 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is because we as humans have to work more than have fun.... It's like school 5 days and the weekend off. We learn more and work more to better understand the world. I guess one could interpret work as destiny but one can say work isn't work if it's what you like doing.
In fact, don't you get paid more to support yourself? To pay for rent, bills, etc... Most people work two jobs now... Why? Because they need the money... So, it really depinds on the person, you could always work part time.
Although whoever suggested it is right, if we work 4 days and have 3 days off, more people would be employed!! But if the job doesn't have much people (i.e. Hospital since my mom works there (the blood bank center) sometimes she is forced to go because no one is working during or only one other person is working. So they pay her to go and etc...
There's always different situations... pretty vague question but a good one!
2007-01-20 00:32:52 · answer #3 · answered by Kala J 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its all about supply & demand! That what is currently in UK culture the norm. Also historically as a Christain country we use to observe the Sunday as a day of rest & worship. However not everyone works those hours - Doctors, Fire People, Police, Call Centre Staff lots - you need to get more life experiance to see that not the norm.
2007-01-20 00:28:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We get Sundays off because of church. We get Saturdays off because it's the one day a week to do yard work, or other things that people would not do on Sundays because it went against their religious beliefs. These days off were set many decades ago, when the country was more religious than it is now.
2007-01-20 00:28:05 · answer #5 · answered by Paul H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one person. It evolved over time. Some people do work 4 ten hour days. Some people work six or seven days a week. There is no law involved. It is tradition and collective bargaining.
2007-01-20 00:26:59 · answer #6 · answered by regerugged 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was probably decided a long time ago. I bet it was just that 5 days is the maximum amount of time you can work before you really feel like sht and 2 days resting is the minimum time you need to recover from feeling like sht. It was definately someone who was interested in making money though.
2007-01-20 00:25:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know someone who does that, but you have to work incredibly hard to get that sort of time off - eg longer hours on those four days to make up the time & money not being earned on the fifth day.
2007-01-20 01:04:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a lot of people work 6 days a week. people have sunday off as god made it a day of rest. times have changed since then but it should have been like that
2007-01-20 00:37:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont i work 3 days a week thu fri sat one week then mon tue wed the next which means i work 3 day then a day off (sunday) then 3 days then 7 off
2007-01-20 00:26:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋