Tuesday, February 16, 2010

think tank urges uk to cut working week to 21 hours

think tank urges uk to cut working week to 21 hoursfrom bbc: The working week should be cut to 21 hours to help boost the economy and improve quality of life, a left-wing think tank has said. The New Economics Foundation claimed in a report the reduction in hours would help to ease unemployment and overwork. The think tank said people were working longer hours now than 30 years ago even though unemployment was at 2.5 million. The foundation admitted people would earn less, but said they would have more time to carry out worthy tasks. They would have better scope to look after children or other dependants, there would be more opportunity for civic duties, and older people could even delay retirement, it said.

download: '21 hours - why a shorter working week can help us all to flourish in the 21st century' [449kb PDF]
think tank urges uk to cut working week to 21 hoursAnna Coote, co-author of the 21 Hours report, said: "So many of us live to work, work to earn, and earn to consume, and our consumption habits are squandering the earth's natural resources... Spending less time in paid work could help us to break this pattern. We'd have more time to be better parents, better citizens, better carers and better neighbours... We could even become better employees - less stressed, more in control, happier in our jobs and more productive... It is time to break the power of the old industrial clock, take back our lives and work for a sustainable future." The foundation's policy director Andrew Simms added: "A cultural shift will throw up real challenges, but there could also be massive benefits for our economy, our quality of life and our planet... After all, hands up who wouldn't like a four day weekend?"

econocrash updates:
white house projects long-term mass unemployment*
obama budget would redistribute $112b from top 1% of taxpayers*
desolate malls, empty offices may come soon*
greek financial ministry unveils tax reform, wage policy*
dubai world debt strategy sends stock tumbling*

1 comment:

Dave said...

I'm all for a shorter work week, but if it means cutting my current pay essentially in half, my family and I would starve! Glad I don't live in the UK!

Post a Comment

fair use notice: this site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. we are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, & social justice issues, etc. we believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US copyright law. In accordance with title 17 usc section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.