Why The 8 Hour Day Is BS For Our Time

You probably work a nine to five. You shouldn't. If we look at the history of the 8 hour day, we see what a great achievement it is. But also why it is very much outdated.

Sources:

Hi there, my name is Jochem Boodt. I make the show The Present Past, where I show how the present has been influenced by the past. History, but connected to the present and fun!

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[TheButterMinecart]

The problem with the supposed 8 hours of recreation is that it doesn't account at all for commuting times, house chores, cooking meals, exercising, etc.
Even then you could maybe argue that you still more than enough free time left in the day, but there's another problem with that.
Most people are either too physically or mentally tired after working 8 hours and doing all other obligations, you just end up with masses of NPCs who just get home, do absolutely nothing actually enjoyable, and then go to sleep to repeat the cycle.

[codacreator]

The most prolific writer in America works roughly 5 hours a day. He works to a pre-determined page count every day. After 5 hours, the work begins to erode in quality. This is true of everything. We’re human beings, not machines. Science has already shown this is true. Cracking the whip isn’t going to extract more work without serious repercussions. Suicide? Depression? Physical maladies? Derision? It’s all there. Why don’t we learn? Because we let Capitalists decide for us. All we have to do is to take a stand.

[mykelotan]

Sadly, 40 hours a week is no longer relevant in this era. Overworking is one of the main causes of depression and stress. We cannot consider 2-4 hours of driving, commuting, preparing, eating, taking a bath, etc. as recreational.

[timmy]

Developer here...

Before the pandemic I was forced into an overly loud office building where it's impossible to concentrate or get anything done. As a result many of my team where forced to work overtime during their evenings, in order to catch up with our schedule.

When the pandemic struck we where all allowed to work remotely, productivity skyrocketed! Most of us felt healthier while often working 9 to 10 hours remotely, yet working 10 hours from home was less energy draining as from the office. Most of the team where a lot happier during this period. Getting actual work done during normal work hours was also a new concept for us, as most of the work was originally done during the evenings.

We've now been forced back into the office during the past 4 months, most dev's are miserable as hell and productivity has plummeted to an absolute zero. My boss recently asked why we refused to work unpaid overtime during our evenings, just as before the pandemic. I responded with: "If we can't work remote during our workday, we can't work remote after our workday." He clearly didn't like my answer and stubbornly refuses to revert the work from home rules...

Guess I'm forced to find another workplace where I'm payed to be a productive member of society, not for bottom in chair time...

[ckim]

I agree with an 8 hour cycle being wack. But throughout all of my office experiences, nobody is actually working for 8 hours. It’s more like 3 and they just fuck around for the other 5 or pretend like they working.

[YaBoiHakim]

Great video.
We're a century late in advocating for 30 hour work weeks.
Even within the medical field the efficiency drop-off after 8-10 hours of work is palpable, and as a result of various constraints we're pushed to 12, 14, 16 or even longer hour shifts. At least some skeleton of economic planning and proper state investment can sort all these issues out, whilst maintaining if not outright increasing output (if that's even important/desirable in the relevant field). Definitely a missed point on the left.

[GeographyGeek]

Even working for myself I set an 8 hour workday as well. If I have to work less than 8 on any given day I feel unaccomplished and make up the hours later. It’s too engrained in me at this point lol

[frankygmanentertainment]

What’s bad is as someone with ironworking and frac hand experience, it is typically us in the most dangerous jobs being made to work anywhere from 12-18 hours in a day. People are tired, angry, and mistakes are made that could seriously put peoples lives at risk

[matthewboyd]

8 hour limit and 4 day work week would also assist with degrowth

The idea that happiness comes from buying things rather than spending time with others is something that companies tell us and that we know we're sacrificing of our lives for these corporations that would fire us given the smallest reason

[firamaurina]

In Southeast Asian countries we still have 12 work hours, even more depends on what sectors you’re in. I do think it’s kind of related to how we also spend same hours in school days, which is why when pandemic hits we collectively almost lost it.

[taliatis]

I always had the same issue with that 8 hour work day slogan! 8 hours of recreation falls apart if you have kids or a home you actually contribute to. Hits women in the work force the hardest.

[LiiMuRi]

I'm a researcher, and I noticed already a long time ago that I can get about 4-6 really effective hours of work done per day. After that the quality just starts to drop and it's better to just continue the next day with a clear mind. Sometimes, when there's a lot to do I can keep up longer, but trying to do 8 hours every day just doesn't work. My head just can't take it.

[adamsterdam]

My uncle works 3x12 hours shifts. Its amazing. He never works more than 2 days in a row, saves a lot of time on commute and getting ready for work. Also he can have extended weekend by working mon-wed on week 1 and wed-fri on week 2.

[ThatAnnoyingStepdad]

I would work 0 hours if I could, I literally have no shame in being lazy.

My time is too precious to be working all the time

[Xeonerable]

Sometimes its less about the productivity during the time and more about them being in control of your life.

[joshuasmith]

I think it depends on what you mean by work. The studies I've seen seem to indicate we can get about 3-4 hours of focused concentration in a day, so if that's the only type of work you have, work that much and be done. However there's a lot of low intensity work that still often needs to be done beyond that, like communicating with coworkers/customers, organizing around the office, going places...etc. I think that type of work is fine to fill up to maybe the 8 hours or more.
But yeah I don't expect to do more than 3-4 hours of focused "real" work in a day.

[antred]

Honestly, even if it makes us _less_ productive, that doesn't matter. We work to live, not the other way around!

[greatcesari]

This channel needs to blow up already. YouTube needs to stop suppressing it, it’s so informative.

[spurzo-thespiralspacewolf]

The 8 hour work day is complete garbage. For example, I can get my job done at work in 5 hours, but I can’t leave even though I’m done, I’m expected to stay even though I’m done. Makes no sense just to waste my time.

[cjsilvestremusic]

Yet here we are in Healthcare working 14 hour shifts. Inhumane.