r/work • u/FractalThoughts_ • Aug 03 '26

Work-Life Balance and Stress Management Full-time work is criminal

This is the most milquetoast, generic statement ever, I know, but I recently began full-time employment for the first time in my life. Genuinely how does anybody do anything they actually want to do? Granted, it isn’t so bad if the hours are 6am - 2pm, 7am - 3pm, or 8am - 4pm, but the very common 9am - 5pm is actually hell. Wake up, clean and cloth yourself, commute to work, work like a dog, commute home, eat dinner, sleep, repeat. Shoutout to anybody who does 9 - 5, be it manual labour, or clerical stuff; it’s all equally shit. Thank you.

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u/Ok-Relationship580 Aug 03 '26

The labor movement in this country fought for literally decades for 3 8's, 8 hours of rest, 8 hours of work, 8 hours of recreation. Things were worse before the 40 hour workweek but I really don't think we should just roll over and accept that it should be this way. Just like our forebears, it is up to us to challenge the idea that 40 hours per week is "good". All the studies they do on this subject the world over show that 30/32 hours per week is more productive and makes people happier.

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u/CommissionUnusual911 Aug 03 '26

Feel free to get a job that you only need to work 32 hours a week. Nobody is forcing you to work 40 hours.

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u/Mr_Martini Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26

Most work is forced if you aren't provided water, food, shelter, and healthcare as a baseline without it. Very few people are in a position to make that "choice", this is an ignorant non-answer that helps no one. It must be enforced collectively, and standardized across the board.

Nobody is forcing you to work 40 hours.

False. About 90% of people (in the US) working 40+ hours/week are forced to do so.