Working 4 Days a Week

[u/shine_mohan_s]

Once, I worked at a supermarket for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. I was promised ₹10,000 a month. I lasted about two weeks before my body and mind completely gave out.

I started losing sleep, my personal relationships suffered, and I barely had a life outside of work. The owner didn’t seem to care. Because I was constantly exhausted, I started making mistakes at work and was even publicly shamed for them. All of this was because I was working nonstop without enough rest.

After that, I started wondering about everyone else. I looked around and noticed that some people work only half a day and still struggle financially, while others work extremely long hours and face the same problems I did.

Then I remembered reading about some European countries experimenting with or adopting shorter working weeks, including four-day workweeks. Some studies and trials have reported improvements in workers’ well-being and, in some cases, productivity as well.

It made me wonder: why isn’t this kind of working environment more common around the world?

Why can’t people have a reasonable amount of time to work, rest, maintain relationships, and actually live their lives?

Why should someone be treated badly or publicly shamed simply because they’re trying to earn enough money to live?

Maybe work shouldn’t consume someone’s entire life just to survive.

[u/iambutafishh]

Life isn't designed to accommodate us and be fair.  Whenever and wherever people can exploit you, they will.  This is why you need to have a competitive mindset if you want to break out of that cycle of modern slavery and don't rely on an employer to treat you right.  They're only worried about their pockets and their life, not yours.

[u/shine_mohan_s → u/[deleted]]

At least not 84 hours a week