In the 19th century, people were at work for most of their lives. Americans were working more than 10-hour days, sometimes seven days a week. People were stretched incredibly thin and decided they needed to take their time back.
The Journey to a Shorter Work Week
Unions Lead the Way
The slogan "eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what we will" became a powerful message for workers fighting for fairer hours. In 1867, Illinois passed a law for an eight-hour workday, but many companies refused to follow it. This led to a huge strike in Chicago, which became known as May Day. Every year on May 1st, unions continued to strike for the eight-hour workday.
These strikes drove some big changes for workers:
1869: Government workers get an 8-hour workday
1906: Several big printing firms switch to the 8-hour workday
1916: Railroad workers get an 8-hour workday
Private Companies Join In
In 1926, recognizing the shifting economic and social landscape, Henry Ford implemented a 40-hour workweek at Ford Motor Company. He believed that shorter working hours would increase productivity and worker satisfaction while also providing employees with more leisure time to spend money on goods, thereby boosting the economy. This forward-thinking move set a new standard in the industry and influenced labor practices nationwide.
However, it wasn't until the 1930s, during the Great Depression and more mass strikes, that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and federal reformers realized that broader changes were necessary.
Finally, a 40-Hour Workweek
In 1938, FDR introduced the Fair Labor Standards Act in Congress, which would raise the minimum wage, end child labor, and require overtime pay after 40 hours of work per week. Many companies fought against it tooth and nail, predicting the end of the economy. Prosperity, they insisted, depended on the "genius" of American business, but how could business "find any time left to provide jobs if we are to persist in loading upon it these everlastingly multiplying governmental mandates and delivering it to the mercies of multiplying and hampering Federal bureaucracy? But most businesses were smart and adapted to the changing environment, helping create one of the strongest economies in the world.
In the 1940s and 1950s, there were efforts to further reduce working hours, and the push for a six-hour day continued into the 1960s. However, the rise in unemployment during the 1970s shifted labor leaders' focus to job preservation. As a result, the idea of a shorter workweek faded from public attention until recently, with the growing popularity of the 4-day workweek.
The Rise of the 4-Day, 32-Hour Workweek
The movement is still young, but growing fast. In just the last few years, we’ve seen incredible progress that we must continue to build on:
2019: 4 Day Week Global UK trial makes waves, leading to the founding of WorkFour in the U.S. and the kickoff of the US trial.
2019: AFL-CIO adopts as a core tenet of their platform
2020: COVID-19 pandemic sends almost all workers home and shines a light on the widespread burnout in many industries
2021: Rep. Takano introduces one of the first bills in Congress
2023: United Auto Workers (UAW) includes the 32-hour workweek in their historic contract win
2021-2024: 10 state legislatures introduce 4-day workweek bills
2024: Bernie Sanders introduces the 32-Hour Workweek Act in the Senate
Where do we go from here?
People don’t just want to work for work’s sake—they want to live fulfilling lives. While work can be enjoyable and engaging for some, most jobs are taken out of necessity rather than choice. We’ve come a long way since working 100+ hours a week, but despite better working conditions and a roaring economy, many Americans are struggling to keep up. We need to take a step back and prioritize what matters most: families and friends, neighbors and communities, play and rest.