There are different theories as to who is responsible for the five
day, Monday to Friday week, with the weekend off.
1. In 1908, the first five-day work week in the United States was
instituted by a New England cotton mill so that Jewish workers
would not have to work on the Sabbath from sundown Friday to
sundown Saturday.
2. In 1926, Henry Ford standardized on a five-day work week,
instead of the prevalent six days, without reducing employees'
pay. Hours worked stabilized at about 49 per week during the
1920s, and during the Great Depression it fell below 40.
It now seems to be the chosen working week by offices, Doctors,
Hospital Outpatients Clinics, Dentists, Transport Companies, Bus,
Train, Tram.
Every city that works for 5 days per week, also suffers, Rush Hours
morning and evening.
Shops are all open 7 days per week, here in the UK, Supermarkets
must close on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.
Christians view Sunday as the Sabbath, Jews, have Saturday, Muslims
take Friday for their Sabbath, but they go to work after the Mosque,
in the Middle East, in London too if they have a job.
Why are we in the modern, 21st Century world, still covering only five
days, Hospital waiting times are a disgrace, Court cases have queues
of 18 Months to 3 years in some cases!
My last job before retirement was as a maintenance engineer for the
Bank of America, we had in my opinion a great shift system, 2 days,
2 nights, then 4 days off, these were 12-hour shifts, my total annual
hours were, 2,190 hrs, the average is 2,000, but we got more money,
per hour, for accepting the shift system.
I realise that a shift system, of 12-hour days or nights, is not for all, but
shifts of 8hrs, could be arranged, to suit all, this would also allow business
to be conducted, anywhere in the World, without being inconvenienced
by the time of day.
This sounds like a rant, but it isn't, it is just an idea to get things running
a bit more smoothly.
Mike.
day, Monday to Friday week, with the weekend off.
1. In 1908, the first five-day work week in the United States was
instituted by a New England cotton mill so that Jewish workers
would not have to work on the Sabbath from sundown Friday to
sundown Saturday.
2. In 1926, Henry Ford standardized on a five-day work week,
instead of the prevalent six days, without reducing employees'
pay. Hours worked stabilized at about 49 per week during the
1920s, and during the Great Depression it fell below 40.
It now seems to be the chosen working week by offices, Doctors,
Hospital Outpatients Clinics, Dentists, Transport Companies, Bus,
Train, Tram.
Every city that works for 5 days per week, also suffers, Rush Hours
morning and evening.
Shops are all open 7 days per week, here in the UK, Supermarkets
must close on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.
Christians view Sunday as the Sabbath, Jews, have Saturday, Muslims
take Friday for their Sabbath, but they go to work after the Mosque,
in the Middle East, in London too if they have a job.
Why are we in the modern, 21st Century world, still covering only five
days, Hospital waiting times are a disgrace, Court cases have queues
of 18 Months to 3 years in some cases!
My last job before retirement was as a maintenance engineer for the
Bank of America, we had in my opinion a great shift system, 2 days,
2 nights, then 4 days off, these were 12-hour shifts, my total annual
hours were, 2,190 hrs, the average is 2,000, but we got more money,
per hour, for accepting the shift system.
I realise that a shift system, of 12-hour days or nights, is not for all, but
shifts of 8hrs, could be arranged, to suit all, this would also allow business
to be conducted, anywhere in the World, without being inconvenienced
by the time of day.
This sounds like a rant, but it isn't, it is just an idea to get things running
a bit more smoothly.
Mike.
