Workweeks may never be the same
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Dear readers, this week we asked whether shorter workweeks could become a permanent thing.
The pandemic has forced into the open certain fallacies about the way work life is structured. And as the coronavirus crisis reshapes our beliefs around work, it may open up the conversation to one policy which has fallen by the wayside in America: a shorter, four-day, 32-hour workweek.
The United States has long resisted a more flexible work culture. In response to the pandemic, companies such as TripAdvisor and publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, as well as cities such as Strongsville, Ohio, have switched to four-day weeks but with pay reductions (in addition to furloughs or layoffs in some cases).
For most workers, however, especially those with low incomes or struggling to afford the basics, clocking fewer hours for less pay is not a feasible option. That’s why some climate and labor activists advocate a post-pandemic path that reduces the workweek while providing a just, livable wage.
As Juliet Schor, a sociology professor at Boston College, told writer Clio Chang: “The pandemic gives us an opening to talk about what kind of work is really needed."
What do you think? We'd love to hear from you. Cheers, Laura, Amanda and Kyla |
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The Psychology Behind Why Some People Wear Face Masks – And Others Don't Confusion, embarrassment, discomfort. Psychologists explain what may stop people wearing a mask. [HuffPost]
The Long, Unhappy History of Working From Home As the coronavirus keeps spreading, employers are convinced remote work has a bright future. Decades of setbacks suggest otherwise. [The New York Times]
The Inequality of Summer Leisure This season of social distancing will also be one of social closeness between neighbors—illuminating divides of race, class, and place. [The Atlantic]
Here's Proof We Need Better Mental Health Care For People Of Color There are huge disparities when it comes to accessing proper mental health treatment. Addressing that is long overdue. [HuffPost] |
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