Work Less, Play More

Many people work forty hours a week. The eight-hour workday has its origins in the Industrial Revolution and became usual in the early 20th century. But nowadays, many countries are looking into shorter working hours and shorter weeks.
Supporters say that working fewer hours would leave people more time for friends and family. They say that most people have no time to take care of things in their personal lives. This is why they eat fast food, drive when they could walk, and are disconnected from nature. They are not very productive. They get stress-related illnesses, so they have to take sick leave. A shorter workweek would give people time to do things they enjoy. They would be happier at work.
However, there are some possible disadvantages to a shorter week. One is that less work could mean less pay. Supporters of shorter workweeks argue that workers should be paid the same despite working less. They point to Germany and the Netherlands, where employees work less than before for the same pay. They contrast this with the United Kingdom and the United States. Employees there work longer hours but are paid the same as workers in similar jobs in the Netherlands or Germany.
Some countries will experiment before deciding to change working times. The Swedish government, for example, has a theory that workers grow tired after six hours, becoming less productive and creative. They will choose one city and allow some employees to work six hours a day while others work the standard eight. After one year, they will compare the performance of each group and decide whether to shorten work hours.
Shorter workweeks seem suitable in the modern world. If companies shorten the workweek, they might see an increase in hourly productivity. Employees might be happier and more loyal. It will be interesting to see how this policy develops over the coming years.