Why The World’s Second Richest Man Wants You To Work Less

[BrownEye]

I have found that US corporations continue to dump more work on people, attempting to cut loose other positions and save money. There is seriously something wrong with the way the US functions.

Imagine spending only three days at work each week. Would you want that? Would it free up time to work on other projects, spend with family, travel, or just improve the status of your life? According to Carlos Slim, the world’s second-richest man, such a “radical overhaul” in the way most people work could be beneficial for the individual and economy.

The 74-year-old Telmex CEO believes that because productivity decreases as work hours increase, reducing the hours one spends invested in their job per week could help to improve work output, as well as inspire new entertainment for production to keep the public occupied.

“With three work days a week, we would have more time to relax; for quality of life,” said Carlos during a recent business conference in Paraguay. “Having four days [off] would be very important to generate new entertainment activities and other ways of being occupied.”

Working only three days per week has its downside, however; people would need to work until they were 70 or 75 years of age. The work week would be shorter, but there would be a lot more of them. And the goal of retiring by 50 or 60 – which already seems somewhat of an impossible dream today – would not be a possibility.

The suggestion of the rich CEO, whose net-worth currently exceeds $80 billion according to Forbes, does make sense, however, especially when compared with similar notions of productivity in the workplace.

It seems working more makes people less productive; and among the world’s top economies, the U.S. ranks highest for working the longest hours. According to data compiled by the Economist and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, as people worked more hours, productivity declined.


While the intent behind such a suggestion might be intelligent, there would be many kinks to work out for such a system to thrive. Many people work exorbitant amount of hours because they need the income, not because they feel inspired by their job.

A three day work-week could most definitely free up time for refreshed perspective, bonding time with the family, and space for personal development and growth, but would such events take place if no initiative or inspiration was given to the public? In Carlos’ mind, time not spent at work could be utilized to create more entertainment for the media with the focus of occupying’ the public’s mind. Many would argue, however, that there is already plenty of mindless preoccupation with entertainment, and such time could (and should) be invested in other areas.

On a positive note, the trade-off between fewer hours and more work weeks definitely seems worth it. Less hours spent in the office would result in a more productive populace, which could result in a stimulated economy, which could in effect encourage growth.

Regardless, increasing efficiency and reducing workload is no doubt a priority for many, and there are countries who are already implementing programs to try and accomplish just that. In 2014, Sweden introduced a program to lessen the seven-hour-work day to six. While it is currently just an experiment, Finland also did something and reported success.

Despite the opposition of such a proposal in the U.S., it is inevitable that some form of change will one day take place. The world is no longer in an industrial age, and instead yearns to evolve into an age of information. With such advance, application of wisdom and pursuit of knowledge could be the focus, allowing many things to change. Not only would work requirement decrease, but technology could be utilized to efficiently ‘run the system’; in effect, every individual would have time to invest in personal growth and experience transformation.


Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/why-the-worl...work-less/

[native]

Here in the US, working for a wage was akin to slavery and seen as an insult, I'm told. If you took a job, it was to build income to eventually start something on your own. I see the current situation of companies dumping more work on fewer and fewer people, as catalyst to motivate you to create something that you actually want to do or love doing.

We're here to create, right? The current situation is reflecting our lack of responsibility, because if you're not going to create something or support someone else in creating something positive, someone will gladly profit off of you.

It seems many don't really have hobbies or are sort of at a loss of what to do with their free time. So even if you aren't particularly motivated to create something on your own, a reduced work week would allow others to participate in creating something together with others (we're always doing that), such as volunteering on an organic farm. Keeps us active and healthy, while reducing the cost of organic food and would allow for increased output.

Many hands make light work.
Many hands make light work.
Many hands make light-work.

[Plenum]

Imagine spending only three days at work each week. Would you want that? Would it free up time to work on other projects, spend with family, travel, or just improve the status of your life? According to Carlos Slim, the world’s second-richest man, such a “radical overhaul” in the way most people work could be beneficial for the individual and economy.


“With three work days a week, we would have more time to relax; for quality of life,” said Carlos during a recent business conference in Paraguay. “Having four days [off] would be very important to generate new entertainment activities and other ways of being occupied.”



A three day work-week could most definitely free up time for refreshed perspective, bonding time with the family, and space for personal development and growth, but would such events take place if no initiative or inspiration was given to the public? In Carlos’ mind, time not spent at work could be utilized to create more entertainment for the media with the focus of occupying’ the public’s mind. Many would argue, however, that there is already plenty of mindless preoccupation with entertainment, and such time could (and should) be invested in other areas.

On a positive note, the trade-off between fewer hours and more work weeks definitely seems worth it. Less hours spent in the office would result in a more productive populace, which could result in a stimulated economy, which could in effect encourage growth.

I am living this lifestyle Browneye.

I started this current job at 5 days, then after a couple of years, because it wore me down so much (night shift!), I asked to drop a day. And not just a day from the end of the week, I asked to drop the middle day of my week, the Wednesday. (so I would work 2 days on, 1 off, then 2 days on again, weekend).

I have to admit, when I first had the idea, I was a little hesitant. Would my manager agree? would he look down on me for not wanting to work full time like everyone else? (at the time, all the positions in the company were full time). Would he just say no, and not even consider my request?

but amazingly, my boss (the team leader) said they would ask a higher level manager to consider the request. And a couple of days later, my boss said - "ok, it's been approved. You can start your new roster next week.". And BOOM. It was done like that.

the 4 day workweek was a breeze, didn't even feel like working. I've spoken to Spaced in the chatroom, and he has had the fortune of working this same pattern of 4 days (two on, one off, two on again), and he found the stress relief to be a game changer. Or to be more precise, only working two consecutive days doesn't allow the stress to build up, and you can re-align yourself and relax (do the things closest to your heart), on that middle day off in the middle of the week. Sure, there's a 20% paycut, but the difference in lived lifestyle/consciousness is immenese. It's real, and it's valid.

I did the 4 day workweek for another couple of years, and enjoyed it very much. But at that time, an even more astonishing thought struck me - "what if I could drop another day? wouldn't that be totally insane? could I make that work? could I?".

And I did sit on it for a while, before making another request from my managers. By that stage, I had had my pay grades bumped because of experience and exceptional productivity, and I was quite a senior member of the team (without ever taking the step into a supervising/direct leadership position).

But yes, I did come forward with my wishes to drop another day, and this was agreed to in a short time as well. I had my 3 days! And I didn't have them bunched up either - they were spaced out - originally it was the pattern of 1 day on, 1 off, then 2 days on, but I eventually switched it to non-consecutive days of work.

This is how I have been working and living for the past 4 years. My hourly rate is sufficiently high to cover my rent, food and utility costs, and I have a low spending lifestyle as it is, and so I didn't need to change much in my spending habits. Also not having any family commitments means that I can make this a doable thing in terms of income.

My country (Australia) also has free-healthcare, and so two things:
* no need to pay for health insurance/health cover (although that option is available if you want to use private hospitals)
* if I did get sick, I wouldn't be indebted up to my eyeballs in paying it off, so I can live with my current reduced income.

- -

I have all the leisure time I need to think and process things, and to use this earthly catalyst for growth.

I have enough time to sleep (and dream), and fully recover each day.

I pay my own way, and am not dependent on any handouts from government or family to sustain this lifestyle. (the taxes I do pay, pay for the social structure of which I am a part of, like the universal health coverage that I mentioned up above).

- -

since I started working reduced days, my company has been much more open to offering positions at part-time hours, rather than just full-time ones. I by no means thinks it was a direct response to my initiative; but rather that the work climate has changed in recent years in Australia, and more businesses are willing to accomodate people who want to have a different relationship to their work/family/leisure.

but hey, the 40 hour workweek was a legacy of union initiatives in the late 1800's to change the merciless grinding of workers in factories and mines. It was a great step forward. But since that time, not much has changed in regards to the 5 day/8 hour day attitude.

While the change to a 4 day or 3 day workweek would involve wholescale restructuring of our society, I think it's a great thing that people can make it work for themselves on an individual level, if the opportunity is available. As more people 'choose it', and ask 'for it', it will become more acceptable and the norm. And then it won't even be remarked upon.

[AnthroHeart]

I'm working more now at a project, and I don't seem to mind it.

[AnthroHeart]

We have a 4-day work week, but we have to do 10 hours a day. They're called 4 by 10's.
I prefer my 9 hour days, 5 days a week.
I get to work from home 4 days a week, so it's not too bad.
Though I have to take phone calls several times a week.