Should people be off on Fridays?
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21242782

The Gambia has shortened the work week, making Friday a day of rest. Is this the perfect pattern for a working week?

In the tiny African nation of The Gambia, public sector workers will now clock in at 8am and clock out at 6pm, Monday to Thursday. They'll still do a 40-hour week but have the luxury of Friday off.

President Jammeh wants the extra rest day to "allow Gambians to devote more time to prayers, social activities and agriculture".

In the dark days of the 19th Century, many workers in industrialised nations considered themselves lucky if they got Sunday off. The achievement of a 40-hour week with Saturday and Sunday off for many was a major landmark for the labour movement.


Michael Honey is director of Icelab, an interactive design studio in Canberra, Australia. Office hours are Monday-Thursday 8am-6pm

"The pros are gaining 50% more weekend, four days' commuting - which is good for the environment, mental and physical - and free time during working hours which is great for errands.

"I'm sure we could be marginally more productive per week if we worked five days - but is it worth it? Do we really need the extra money, when it comes at the cost of time, the only thing no-one can have more of?

"The other cons are paying seven days' rent on office premises for four days' use and client meeting or phone calls on Fridays that we just can't reschedule.

"We did it for selfish reasons - we wanted to have more space in our lives to do the things we enjoy outside work. Cycling, hiking, trips to the mountains or the coast - or just going to the movies, getting a haircut, running errands.

"I unreservedly recommend it. People need more time to think, to play, to reflect, to be human."

Continued http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21242782

its not possible at most companies

4 days * 10 hours would definitely be preferred to 5*8 by most workers.

that's what the economy in Africa needs - more prayers...

I stopped reading after "public sector, Africa"

that's racist!

Then they're gonna get lazier and demand more free time..the more spoiled people get the more they're gonna complain..

Why do people need to have the same day off? What if I want a big mac on Friday? Is Mcdonalds going to be closed so people can have the day off? Here's an idea; don't be like everyone else. Build your own hamburger restaurant and only open on Fridays. Oh wait, is that where that one restaurant got it's name?

Unfortunately, I've been too busy working to confirm/deny this by asking all the workers around the globe.

Usually you need to take a sample of all, that is how surveys work. Although some things are common sense even without surveys :)

they will just fire your ass its a weekday. things need to be made and delivered :2 cents: you want less food and shit on the shelves at the store??

Ah, I see.

Wasn't aware it's just common sense to prefer 10hr. days to 8hr. days.

I prefer 24hr days. :rainfro

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Over the years most of the jobs I have had (before starting to work for myself) worked five eight hour days. However, I had one that worked four 10's which was nice. My favorite was a company that had to run 24/7 so they split the week into two shifts. My shift was 6pm - 6am Sun, Mon and Tues and every other Weds. They paid overtime for anything over 10 hours per day or 40 hours per week. So on the short weeks I got 30 hours straight time and 6 hours of overtime and 4 days off. On the long weeks I got 34 hours straight time and 12 hours overtime. Those days can be long, but was almost like having a part time job.

Friday is a holiday in Dubai I think....

not a bad idea :2 cents::2 cents::2 cents::2 cents:

everybody is conditioned to the core that the hours we spend working is 'normal'. When you say or think otherwise, you're seen as a weirdo, slacker, idiot, etc... Because that's how everyone has been conditioned to think since birth.

Now think outside this mental (and literal) prison for a moment.
The lower class people have always been slaves to the higher ups. As centuries and decades went by, it was proven that slavery doesn't work - people rise up, because they know and feel they are slaves.

The bossman/slave relationship has since evolved:
The maximum number of working hours people can take without questioning it/burning out evolved to what we know now as the 40 hour workweek.
The balance of 5 days work and 2 days were formed.
These hours and days are the perfect blend of getting maximum result out of people with the least amount of resistance. Gradually formed through hundreds of years of trial and error. Leave people with just enough free time to recharge (weekend) to work again for 5 days, but with just too little to think about what the hell they are doing (the big picture where we're talking about now). During the 5 days work people also don't think about this, because these hours are perfect to tire people, let them watch tv, don't think about anything, and repeat it all the next day.

The hours and days you and I see as 'normal', are far from normal if you look at it objectively like this. It is in fact the most efficient modern slavery system to date, that's why it's still being used.

Friday is the Muslim sabbath. I guess Gambia is influenced more and more by Boko Haram next door in Mali.

We like the schedule we keep now. Work 6-7 days per week 4-7 hours per day...unless we are traveling.

Working 4 days 10hours, and having 3 days off. That is a nice idea, but this is too much

I buy you GFY Gold :thumbsup

slaves didn't own things, didn't get weekends no less holidays. they didn't get paid for the most part and if they wanted to stop working? they were beaten and eventually killed. This isn't even ancient history, it still happens today--even in the US and Canada with sex workers imported from over seas.

the work force is essential, no doubt, its full of boring mundane jobs that nobody dreams of doing at any point. but we still maintain the ability and opportunities to overcome these jobs. We can invest our money, we can start up our own business and eventually hire workers to do these jobs for us instead. Do you think a slave would have this chance? No fucking chance.

Your comparison is spitting in the face of history and displays your lack of understanding what an actual slave is.

There's always one that ruins it for the rest of us, but in general, I think most workers shall appreciate more time with the family & make a success of working hard for the 4 days at work :2 cents:

Absolutely. Continental shifts are 4 on 3 off, but with everyone working different days & different hours :thumbsup

Ofcourse the present workers have it alot better, especially in western countries - that's actually exactly the point im making. Slavery has evolved to where workers are now: A compromise for max results & least amount of resistance. Perks like days off and money are part of it. Cons like working for the majority of your life until you are too old to function properly (which is now 65 years old, here in 2023 it will be 67) are part of it as well. Eventually this age will be 70. Until you're 70 you have worked 70% of your life. So you can enjoy the fruits of this 70 year long struggle for a couple of years, until you get cancer and die. Healthy system for sure.

Im not 'spitting in the face of history', that conclusion has absolutely no link at all with anything i typed. I know you disagree with anything I say all the time, but please try to understand it, be open about it.

Not exactly. Common sense to think that majority would prefer 4 days of work and 3 days off instead of 5-2 days.

I laughed at this last night when I first read it but... It makes sense. I'm already working ten hours a day as it is.

You're right. The world was a much better place when no one could read or write and thought the world was flat, sacrificed virgins to volcanos and all you had to do was just work in the field along side your children 15 hrs a day, 7 days a week to plant, tend to and harvest crops and take care of animals to survive and feed your family and live to an average age of 35... and had to worry daily about disease and invading hoards burning down the village and murdering everyone. Thats "freedom". If only we could go back to those better times!

Only a disturbed mind could seriously conclude that having a job and having to work to provide for yourself and family is "slavery"

9 to 5 til you get sick or die sounds quite like modern slavery to me.

And I work alot more than 9 to 5 for myself, because ironically that's the only way to break free of it. Not being a zombie doing a 9 to 5 for a boss at least gives me a little bit of an idea of being free, but in the end we are all slaves to money. It's how the world works nowadays. The only other option is to move to a desert island and learn to live without anything - not really my dream.

It's not gonna happen in the western world.

Working only 9-5, 5 days a week with 4-6-8 weeks paid vacation, medical insurance for your family, having plenty of free time to pursue family and personal interests etc etc etc... sounds like "slavery"?

What do you think is supposed to happen? Food just rains down from the sky and we pick it up in baskets? Money should just flow like streams and we just scoop out what we need to build a home and provide for a family?

How do you think the world is supposed to work if everyone does not work hard and contribute to society as has been the case since the dawn of civilization, to support themselves and their families? At what point in human history do you think people weren't working hard to hunt, forage, farm, build, trade or whatever, to survive all day, every single day? And today.... doing the absolute bare minimum with every possible guarantee of your own safety and survival and comfort of you and your family that can be made is "slavery".

No, food and money does not come rain down. Where did you read that? This is not a discussion about alternatives, this is being aware of how the system works, and what sad state it is. Why are you here if you like it so much? I assume you work for yourself - quit now, go and work at some factory until you're 70, and report back to me when you've had a stroke at 71 how comfortable you are.

We've started flex time schedules here. Basically, how long does it take you to do your job? Can you get 10 hours of production by working hard for 6 hours? Then work 6 hours. need an extra day or two off for family? Is your work done? Project up to date? Then do it.

I used to kill myself working 10-12-14 hours days in this business and I ended up with a heart attack at age 38 and more stressed out then ever before, even though I was making more money. I've since worked hard to create a work/life balance and it's paying off. I'm as productive as ever, take vacation days here and there, don't have to miss my kids' big events and get more family time. I've never been healthier or happier.

A lot of companies are moving towards things like unlimited vacation time, flexible work schedules, etc. and seeing productivity increase. We've seen it and it's not that the office full of lazy people. We just focus on being productive and completing tasks and projects versus what time it says on the clock. I love that I'm in the office by 7, usually done by 3 and have my whole day to devote to my family after that, sometimes my work is done by 1 and other, I have to bust ass until 5.

I find it odd that America is considered lazy, when we work longer hours, shorter vacation times and fewer breaks. It;'s not always about how many hours you put on your time card. What is your quality of life?

If this country finds that their quality of life if made greater by working their workers for fewer hours, they ended up gaining in the long term.

i worked for shamrock farms if they shut down on friday shit would spoil and less product. i made the ice cream and some other products. :) good learning experience.

I prefer my tech support online mostly

You start with this assertion that "work" = "slavery" and then immediately dismiss the fact that life has never been easier for anyone... ever in the developed world. There was never a point in history of civilization with the exception of the last 1/2 a century, where people didn't have to work until they died, in whatever form that work took... unless their families supported them in their old age when they could work no longer physically. It's not about what i "like" or "don't like". It's about reality and facts. Just because you arbitrarily decided that "work" is now "slavery" doesn't make it so. It is exactly what its always been. That thing you have to do to exist and thrive and support a family and provide security for that family.

The mad thing is they are going to work 10 hrs a day 4 days a week, go home & enjoy 3 days with family & friends, jumping inot the local river, walking in the country, while we're all working 10 hr day 7 days a week, maybe a nice car but still wanting more or trying to gain our goals.

Anyone watched the film LUCY?