Help us settle this um.. disagreement,ha!

1. 74

   Eaglekiwiposted 13 years ago

   Who was responsible for creating the 40 hr week?
   
   Hubby says American forefathers
   
   I say origins began in Britain ( because I wasnt listining when my father talked about labour changes in New Zealand) shame on me.
   
   Anyway we both could be wrong, and I mean no disrespect to the USA'S forefathers ,but I just dont beleive they did this.

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2. 59

   knolyourselfposted 13 years ago

   From wikipedia: "The eight-hour day movement or 40-hour week movement, also known as the short-time movement, had its origins in the Industrial Revolution in Britain, ...".

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      Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yay, looking good for whose cooking dinner tonight ,hehe

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3. 60

   paradigmsearchposted 13 years ago

   "Who was responsible for creating the 40 hr week?"
   
   Someone who didn't have to work for a living.
   
   And as for those 60-80 hour work-weeks that I’ve done during my life (as have we all)…

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      Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hmm..were you working to live or living to work?
      
      40 hrs is plenty (IMO).
      
      Choice is another thing though, in respect to overtime.
      
      
      It freed children from slavery ,tyrant employers etc.
      Maybe this was also the birth of unions ,not sure.

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      Randy Godwinposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Having been raised on and eventually operating a farm, 40 hour work weeks were always mythical in reality.  But this is true for many self-owned and operated businesses.  No biggie! 

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4. 0

   Motown2Chitownposted 13 years ago

   Not so sure about how/when it came to NZ, but here's some information about how it came to be in the US.  Thanks to my husband, who found this link because A) He loves me and B) He loves to be right. :-)
   
   http://www.gobankingrates.com/history-o … e-economy/

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      Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Wise hubby
      
      Thanks for the link!

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         Motown2Chitownposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         He certainly is a wise one!  ;-)  But the best ever.  Hope it helps the cause!

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5. 74

   Eaglekiwiposted 13 years ago

   Ok jurys out ,but Im smilin thanks guys

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6. 61

   recommend1posted 13 years ago

   As the 40 hour week was teh standard before NZ, OZ or those damn Yankees even existed you can be pretty sure it was in GREAT Britain.

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      Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      
      
      Yea my thinking too ,or even Europe ,but I did read up on it and yep def Britain.

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         recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Europe were far more backward and copied us in everything Industrial revolution wise - it will have been the UK

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            Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Oh them is fighting words, but I do take your point!

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7. 79

   mega1posted 13 years ago

   I always thought the 40 hr week came about in Britain late 1800s when they developed production work - assembly lines - they found that workers were at their best productive level in four hour increments with break for lunch - and after 8 hrs of assembly work they started making mistakes - tired, etc.  so they had to hire more workers and double shift them in order to get the most out of their machinery.  It makes sense.  Most workers don't do that well when they work longer than 8 hours at anything during a day - so if you're working 60 hour weeks you may be actually wasting a lot of time and ruining your body for no real gain (unless you're paid $$$$$ per hour and the boss doesn't realize you're sleeping on the job!)  Me, I'm on call 24 hours a day, so it makes no sense for me to worry about it.  I don't work very hard but there is a psychological burden having to be "available" all the time, for sure.

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   Mikeydoesposted 13 years ago

   I was thinking about the 40 hours work week today.. It needs to be cut down, for sure.

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      Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Aww..hope you enjoy your down time then

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         Mikeydoesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I'm working on my ways to where I can decide how much I want to work.. More preferably, I want it to seem like its not work.

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            Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Well good for you!!
            
            Once saw this great poster.
            
            'Find the job you love and never work a day in your life'
            
            So,to your best life

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