People for a Shorter Workweek and Sustainable Life

Can't Find a Job? Work Part-Time and Live a Simple Life

2011-10-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

It seems it is in the news daily...more people can't find work, especially those over 50. I know a few people who have been looking for full-time work for two years. I also know another person who finally found work, but it took him two years, and he now has to commute. It's the same sad story all over the United States. Even recent college graduates are having a hard time finding work. Right now, the jobs that people are finding are only part-time, since many employers can't hire full-time and/or they don't want to offer health insurance.

What's the answer? Now's the time to look at your expenses and see if you can live more simply. You can live in an Intentional Community with others, or if you own your own home, you can either downsize or rent out a couple of rooms to like-minded people. Co-housing, a form of Intentional Community, is another option. I know a woman who sold her home and moved into a room with her two dogs. She also house sits for others. I also know a man who has never owned his own home. He rents a room and also house sits. These people live a simple life, unburdened by material possessions. You can get creative and find meaningful work you love, especially when the economy is in bad shape.

Since most employers are not interesting in "spreading the work load," which means less layoffs and gives more people jobs, people who are not employed have to think about the skills they have to offer and create their own work. Check out 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller. This is an excellent book for anyone in transition, whether you want to work for someone else or become an entrepreneur. Also, review the list of interesting web sites listed on the left side of my blog.

Dan Buettner and the "Blue Zones"

2011-01-16T16:27:00.000-08:00

Dan Buettner searched the world to find out what makes people happy. In his latest book, Thrive: Finding Happiness The Blue Zones Way, he talks about "Thrive Centers" which are interconnected: community, workplace, social life, financial life, home and self. On page 216, in Chapter 6 (Lessons in Thriving), he states "Limit the Workweek. When it comes to long-term happiness, personal income fails to provide much of a boost for Americans once a household rises above the $60,000-a-year threshold. Individuals who work long hours have less time for social interaction, education, culture, sports and volunteer work. They're also more likely to suffer chronic diseases and a poor family life. The Danish-mandated maximum of 37 hours per week is a good benchmark."

On page 70 (the chapter about Denmark), he states "Most Danes work 37 hours a week and go home to their families or their associations. They take an average of six weeks vacation. If people work for money, they do so to get just enough. The lesson: Knock off at 5 p.m. and take your vacations. The Danes' Protestant work ethic is tempered by their understanding that working too hard - or too long - is a waste of time. So they get their jobs done and pursue other things they enjoy."

Dan Buettner is an internationally recognized researcher, explorer and author. He founded Blue Zones to research the world's best practices in health, longevity and happiness.

This is an excellent book.

Take Back Your Time Has YouTube Channel

2011-01-12T07:21:00.000-08:00

Take Back Your Time now has a YouTube channel. Nearly all the lectures from their 2009 Vacation Matters Summit are available on this YouTube channel. The Vacation Matters Summit was held in Seattle, Washington, a project of Take Back Your Time. Video filming and production by Todd Boyle.

To access the videos, click HERE. On the right side of the page there are "playlists" of the talks that have been posted so far. Because posted videos have to be less than 10 minutes long, the playlists are the easiest way to collect the clips in chronological order.

Speakers include Joe Robinson, Sarah Speck, Arnold Pallay, Peter Fraenkel, Suzy Ross, Cecile Andrews and Mara Adelman.

21 Hours - Why a Shorter Working Week Can Help Us All to Flourish in the 21st Century

2010-09-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

According to the The New Economics Foundation (NEF) in Britain, a ‘normal’ working week of 21 hours could help to address a range of urgent, interlinked problems: overwork, unemployment, over-consumption, high carbon emissions, low well-being, entrenched inequalities, and the lack of time to live sustainably, to care for each other, and simply to enjoy life.

NEF is an independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real economic well-being. Their goal is to improve quality of life by promoting innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic, environment and social issues. They work in partnership and put people and the planet first.

To download the free 40 page pdf of the 21 hour workweek, click HERE.

Gross National Happiness Conference in Vermont

2010-06-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

John de Graaf spoke at the Gross National Happiness conference in Vermont this week. John is the national coordinator of Take Back Your Time, an organization challenging time poverty and overwork in the U.S. and Canada (see www.timeday.org). He is the co-author of the best-selling Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic. John has written two other books and numerous magazine articles and has been active in promoting GNH. He has worked for 33 years as a filmmaker with 15 films shown in prime time on PBS. His latest film, What's the Economy for, Anyway? was shown at the GNH 2010 conference.

Gross National Happiness USA envisions a sustainable future, based on the use of a comprehensive set of social progress indicators that reflects our American values and truly supports life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

In general, those who work a shorter workweek are happier, as they have more time for friends, family, pets and themselves. People for a Shorter Workweek supports GNH-USA, and we encourage you to check out their web site to learn more about this organization.

Reducing Work Time as a Path to Sustainability

2010-01-18T07:51:00.000-08:00

Worldwatch Institute, a globally-focused environmental research organization based in Washington, D.C., has a new publication - State of the World 2010 - Transforming Cultures: From Consumerism to Sustainability. Sixty renowned researchers and practitioners describe how to reorient cultures toward sustainability. In this publication, there is a essay entitled Reducing Work Time as a Path to Sustainability, written by John de Graaf. John is the Executive Director of Take Back Your Time, a documentary filmmaker and co-author of Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic. To view this essay, click HERE and scroll down to the section, THE POWER OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS.

Work to Live, 2nd Edition is Now Available!

2009-09-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

Joe Robinson's important book on work/life balance, Work to Live: The Guide to Getting a Life has now been updated with new information and a new cover!

Here's some information about the book from Joe's web site:

Overcome job burnout
Escape the automatic stress cycle
Work fewer hours, get more done
Control runaway E-tools
Learn how to say no
Set boundaries between work and home
Increase your vacation time
Create your Personal Life List (what do you want to do on this planet?)

For more information about the 2nd edition, vist Joe's web site, WorkToLive.info.

Take Back Your Time Needs Your Help

2009-08-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

Take Back Your Time is a major U.S./Canadian initiative to challenge the epidemic of the following:

OVERWORK

OVER-SCHEDULING

TIME FAMINE

These three things threaten our health, our families and relationships, our communities and our environment. The folks at Take Back Your Time (a non-profit organization) need your financial support now so that they can continue their work helping all Americans gain more time.

Please visit their web site today at www.timeday.org or click on above link and donate to this important organization. Just click on the "donate now" button on their home page.

Thank you for supporting Take Back Your Time, and please mark your calendar for the annual Take Back Your Time Day, Saturday, October 24th.

Conscious Web Sites Added to my Blog

2009-04-21T17:18:00.000-07:00

Two great web sites have been added to my blog this week:

Conscious Talk Radio and Conscious Consuming. Please take some time to review these interesting web sites.

Conscious Talk Radio offers one of this country’s most informative and compelling alternative talk radio programs – pioneering a shift in consciousness – empowering individuals to become conscious consumers and a positive force in their own lives through subjects and interviews in areas as diverse as politics, money and alternative health. It's "radio that makes a difference."

Conscious Consuming seeks to increase awareness of the impact of buying decisions on our health, happiness, and environment. Through education and discussion, they encourage people to live in line with their values by better prioritizing time, money, and material things.

If you are ever in the Seattle area, please tell Rob Spears and Brenda Michaels of Conscious Talk Radio hello from me!

It's time to wake up and be CONSCIOUS!

Vacation Matters Summit

2009-04-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

People for a Shorter Workweek supports the national vacation campaign. Join John de Graaf, author and Executive Director of Take Back Your Time for this important conference in Seattle in August. Details are as follows and the link is above for further information:

Mark the dates and make your reservation now for the NATIONAL VACATION MATTERS SUMMIT, Monday, August 10 - Wednesday August 12, 2009 at Seattle University, Seattle, Washington.

Space is limited. Register before May 1 for a total registration fee of $95, and $45 for students. Media passes available (email jodg@comcast.net).

If spaces still remain after May 1, registration fees will increase to $125 and $65.

Tickets are available from Brown Paper Tickets.

You are also welcome to register directly with TAKE BACK YOUR TIME. Simply send a check payable to TBYT/VACATION SUMMIT to:

Take Back Your Time
PO Box 18652
Seattle, WA 98109

Add your email address for confirmation. Otherwise, we will have a name tag and conference materials waiting for you at the registration desk at the beginning of the Summit.

WHY THIS CONFERENCE? WHY NOW?
Studies show that vacations are essential to physical and mental health. They provide the strongest of family-bonding memories. They improve workplace productivity and prevent burnout. They increase international contact and understanding. They offer opportunities for spiritual growth and joyful play. They provide employment and business opportunities in the travel industry. But the United States is the only industrial country that does not guarantees some vacation time by law and Americans get less vacation time than people in almost any other country of the world.

Times of economic crisis like the one we face today are also opportunities to envision the kind of economy and life we really want and to ask what really matters when it comes to quality of life. Just as the Great Depression led to the forty-hour week and the expansion of the middle class, these new hard times can lead us to new choices that honor the need for balance and leisure in our lives.

The Vacation Matters Summit is about learning and sharing what we know about the value of leisure travel and vacation time. We’ll be bringing together more than three hundred experts, researchers, advocates, stakeholders and interested citizens for the first-ever national gathering about the importance of vacation time. The program starts Monday evening with a welcome and reception and continues until early Wednesday afternoon. It includes eight plenary speakers and at least fifty workshop presenters.

We are still looking for workshop presenters and will be accepting proposals. Let me know if you are interested in presenting and I will forward the information to our workshop committee. Registration fee for presenters will be $25.

ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD
Please let us know whether you will need meals and accommodations while in Seattle. Seattle University offers single and double rooms in both residence halls and residence suites at modest prices ranging from $26 to $55 a night. Email John de Graaf at: jodg@comcast.net

Residence halls—1 person in room: $31 per night; 2 persons in room: $26 each per night
Residence suites—1 person in room: $55 per night; 2 persons in room: $43 each per night

There are also a number of hotels in the immediate area.

Seattle University also offers a meal plan at $30 per day or you may purchase food in the dining area separately. There are also many restaurants in the area.

Please let us know your preferences. Space at Seattle University is limited and first-come, first serve.

Total conference costs including lodging, food and registration (but not travel costs) ranges from approximately $137 (presenters in residence halls) to $265 (non-
presenters in single room residence suites).

Summit begins at 6 pm Monday, August 10 and ends at 2 pm, Wednesday, August 12.

"This Way, it Sounds Noble."

2009-04-18T18:44:00.000-07:00

The friend of mine who is enjoying her shorter workweek due to a lack of work at her company said she did not want to sound lazy, so she told her manager she would be happy to pitch in and take time off without pay and "help the company out." She told me "this way, it sounds noble, as I am doing the company a favor." She did not want to sound lazy. She told me now that she has Fridays off, she is "exploring her inner lazy child." She loves the shorter workweek and doesn't really want to go back to the 40 hour workweek.

People are so afraid that they will look like they are a lazy bum just because they want a shorter workweek (in other words, a life). We all need to explore our "inner lazy child."

Shorter Workweek Instead of Layoff

2009-03-09T17:38:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine told me that a half dozen or so plant employees were laid off from her company. It was a sad day for the plant. In order to not have to layoff the office folks they worked it out so that everyone has two Fridays off per month. My friend was used to working 40 hours per week all of her working life. At first, she thought about the money she would lose, but after the first Friday off, she LOVED it and now she can't wait until her next Friday off.

She called her sister (who is now retired) and told her she would love to have a shorter workweek every week, as it is so wonderful!

Instead of workers being laid off, this company worked it out so that everyone in the office shares the work, and all of the office staff works a shorter workweek. They love those Fridays off and the money isn't as important as time off.

The 40-hour workweek is very hectic. Thanks to the economic downturn, people are discovering how great a shorter workweek is.

Work Less Party of Vancouver, BC has New Film

2009-03-02T12:50:00.000-08:00

The Work Less Party of Vancouver BC has a new short film on their web site: Movie 2. I highly recommend watching both of Conrad Schmidt's films. Conrad is the author of Works of the World RELAX: The Simple Economics of Less Industrial Work. He is currently working on another film and book, so stay tuned!

Economic Downturn

2008-12-31T07:14:00.001-08:00

With the current economic downturn, now is the time to ask your employer for a shorter workweek, and your employer might even be relieved that you asked! I know a few folks whose companies are cutting back the workweek due to slow sales, etc. These people are happy to have the extra time off, while keeping their current benefits. So, don't be afraid to ask.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Another Reason not to Work too Much

2008-07-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Mike of the Shorter Worktime Group for sending us this article:

Toyota Camry engineer died from 'overwork'
July 10, 2008

A Japanese labour bureau has ruled that one of Toyota Motor Corp's top car engineers died from working too many hours, the latest decision against overwork in Japan, where stoic acceptance of extended overtime has long been the norm.

"In the two months up to his death, he averaged more than 80 hours of overtime per month, the criteria for overwork," an officer at the Aichi Labour Bureau, who asked to remain anonymous because she is not an official spokeswoman, said today.

The man who died was aged 45 and had been under severe pressure as the lead engineer in developing a hybrid version of Toyota's blockbuster Camry line, said Mikio Mizuno, the lawyer representing his wife. His identity is being withheld at the request of his family, who continue to live in Toyota City where the company is based.

He regularly worked nights and weekends, was frequently sent abroad and was grappling with shipping a model for the influential North American International Auto Show in Detroit when he died of ischemic heart disease in January 2006.

His daughter found his body at their home the day before he was to leave for the United States.

The ruling was handed down June 30 and will allow his family to collect benefits from his work insurance, Mizuno said.

In a statement, Toyota offered its condolences and said it would work to improve monitoring of the health of its workers.

It is the most recent in a string of decisions against long working hours in Japan, which is struggling to cut down on deaths from overworking, known as "karoshi." Such deaths have steadily increased since the Health Ministry first recognised the phenomenon in 1987.

A court in central Japan last year ordered the government to pay compensation to Hiroko Uchino, the wife of a Toyota employee who collapsed at work and died at age 30 in 2002. She took the case to court after her application to the local labour bureau for compensation was rejected.

AP

http://www.theage.com.au/world/toyota-camry-engineer-died-from-overwork-20080710-3cql.html

Workers of the World Relax Film

2008-07-07T06:13:00.000-07:00

You can now view the short film, Workers of the World Relax, at www.workersoftheworldrelax.org or just click on the title of this post. Directed and Produced by Conrad Schmidt of the Work Less Party in Vancouver, BC, this video is a summary of Chapter 4 from Conrad Schmidt's book Workers Of The World Relax: the Simple Economics of Less Industrial Work. Further chapters will be released on video in the future.

PSW Supports Vacation Law

2008-07-04T09:33:00.001-07:00

PSW supports a three-week paid vacation law for all Americans. Since a shorter workweek is difficult to get (for most people) unless you work part-time, we need to work on getting a decent vacation for Americans. Most Europeans get 4-6 weeks off a year, and when you think about it, getting a mere one or two weeks off a year out of 52 is just a drop in the bucket.

I am asking everyone to visit the new web site, www.right2vacation.org, and support this organization. And while you are there, you can thank John de Graaf and Joe Robinson for all their work so that we can have more leisure time! Don't forget to tell all your friends.

I have heard more horror stories of people whose health suffered because they worked too much, and even worse, those who have died either right after retirement or at a young age.

Even if you don't have the funds to go anwhere (due to high gas prices and/or low income), you can take a vacation right in your own home by turning off the TV, cell phone, and other electronic devices and letting the answering machine get your phone messages. Then, get a chair, grab a book, fix yourself a tall glass of ice tea, and go out in your back yard (weather permitting) and R-E-L-A-X. Go to your local museum, take a walk in a park. bike to your local tea or coffee shop, relax in a library, etc. Most people don't have time to do these things during a regular workweek.

Your help is needed! Support a vacation law for all Americans!

www.right2vacation.org

Shorter Workweek & Four-Day Workweek are not Necessarily the Same

2008-06-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

Now that gas has topped $4.00 per gallon in many cities across the country, several companies are trying out a four-day workweek to help their employees save gas. A lot of people believe that a four-day workweek equals a shorter workweek. This isn't necessarily true. A shorter workweek is a workweek LESS than 40 hours, whether it is 5 days, 4 days, 3 days, etc. A four-day workweek can also be 40 hours per week, and in this case, it is called a COMPRESSED workweek. A compressed workweek can be very stressful, since each day worked consists of at least 10 hours. This makes your day around 14 hours (or longer) from the time you get up until the time you get home. A ten-hour work day is very grueling for anyone; however, it is especially difficult if a you have children, parents or pets to care for.

People for a Shorter Workweek advocates a SHORTER workweek of LESS than 40 hours per week, AND to help save gas and keep fewer cars on the road, PSW would like to see a workweek of 4 days or less, and no more than 32 hours per week.

Take Back Your Time

2008-03-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

The TAKE BACK YOUR TIME March 2008 newsletter is now on the TBYT web site at

http://timeday.org/news_March2008.asp

From their web site:

I think you’ll find a lot of interesting material in newest issue. Good news on Family Leave from New Jersey. A thoughtful article on the impact of Paid Family Leave on Children’s Health in different countries by our new board member Anmarie Widener. A review of an important new book, THE LEISURE ECONOMY by Linda Nazareth. A letter from newsletter editor Kelley Smith on how this year’s flu season shows we need paid sick leave. A fine essay on “Natural Time,” by Matt Zeufle.

You’ll also find an update on our campaign for a paid vacation bill, including an invitation to help plan and build a National VACATION MATTTERS Summit for the spring of 2009.

NOTE: People for a Shorter Workweek supports Take Back Your Time Day.

Gas Prices and Shorter Workweek

2008-03-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

With gas prices reaching an all-time high, companies should consider allowing people to work a shorter workweek (4-days, 32 hours). Send me your comments about gas prices and the shorter workweek.

What's the Economy for, Anyway?

2007-08-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

This conference information is from the Take Back Your Time web site:

WHEN: October 5-7, 2007

WHERE: Washington DC Convention Center (part of the annual Green Festival)

COST: $35 (entire conference, advance registration) or $50 (entire conference, no advance registration or $25 per day). Conference fee includes free admission to Green Festival.

What’s the economy for, anyway? Is it just about having the biggest GDP or the highest Dow Jones Average? Or is it about providing for a healthy, happy, fair and sustainable society? If you think quality of life matters, and wonder how the United States compares to other countries when it comes to providing for its people, then the WHAT’S THE ECONOMY FOR, ANYWAY? conference is for you!

Dozens of prominent experts and activists will offers parts of the answer to the big question and offer out-of-the-box ideas about what we can do to make our economy serve us instead of vice-versa. Three tracks include FINDING HAPPINESS, SEEKING JUSTICE and SECURING SUSTAINABILITY.

Nearly 100 confirmed prominent speakers, including the following:

Gar Alperovitz, author of America After Capitalism

Dean Baker, author of The United States Since 1980

Peter Barnes, co-founder of Working Assets and author of Capitalism 3.0

Jared Bernstein, director of The Economic Policy Institute

Chuck Collins, founder, United for a Fair Economy

Ann Crittenden, author of The High Price of Motherhood

John de Graaf, National Coordinator of Take Back Your Time

Riane Eisler, author of The Real Wealth of Nations, The Chalice and the Blade

Nancy Folbre, feminist economist, author of The Invisible Heart

Kim Gandy, President of the National Organization for Women

Tim Kasser, psychologist, author of The High Price of Materialism

Karen Kornbluh, Policy Director for Senator Obama

Celinda Lake, Democratic pollster, author of What Women Really Want

James Lardner, editor of Inequality Matters

Eric Liu, former presidential speechwriter and domestic adviser for Bill Clinton

Hunter Lovins, co-author of Natural Capitalism

Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy, The End of Nature

David Moberg, Senior Editor, In These Times

Frances Moore Lappe, author of Diet for a Small Planet, Hope's Edge

Julie Nelson, author Economics for Humans

Karen Nussbaum, AFL-CIO, former director, Women's Bureau, US Dept. of Labor

Michael Petit, former Maine Commissioner of Human Services

Miles Rapoport, director, DEMOS

Jerome Ringo, President of Apollo Alliance

Vicki Robin, author of Your Money or Your Life

Joe Robinson, author of Work to Live:  The Guide to Getting a Life

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, co-author of The Motherhood Manifesto

Jim Rubens, former Republican State Senator, New Hampshire

Juliet Schor, author of The Overworked American, Born to Buy

Bill Spriggs, Chairman, Economics Department, Howard University

John Stauber, author of Trust Us, We're Experts, Weapons of Mass Deception

The conference offers 25 individual speeches and nearly 30 workshops.

To see the complete agenda, go to:

http://www.timeday.org/economyconference/agenda.asp

The conference offers nearly 30 workshops. Workshops will include in-depth analysis of current problems, comparisons to the economic performance of other industrial countries, and concrete policy solutions for a happier, healthier, most just and sustainable United States. Conference organizers hope that this conference will mark the beginning of a new national campaign to put the question, “What’s the economy for, anyway?” on the agenda of the 2008 election campaigns and beyond.

Whether you consider yourself an environmentalist, an advocate of social justice, family-friendly policies or universal health care, a union organizer or enlightened business leader, a practitioner of simple living, a student of economics, psychology or politics, a journalist or a wonk, a Democrat, Republican or Green, this conference is for you.

The “What’s the Economy for, Anyway?” project is a program of the Forum on Social Wealth. Financial support comes from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

Definition of Shorter Workweek

2007-06-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

Some people believe that 4 ten-hour days with Fridays off is a shorter workweek. This is incorrect. The standard in the United States is 40 hours per week. It could be 5 days (8 hours per day), 4 days (10 hours per day) or the alternate 9 schedule. Any way you look at it, 40 hours per week is NOT a shorter workweek.. A shorter workweek is a workweek UNDER 40 hours, which is what People for a Shorter Workweek promotes.

The problem with trying to compress the workweek into four days is working 10 hours per day is too long. Also, many companies that offer this compressed workweek only give a 30-minute lunch break, which is hardly enough time to recuperate after working five hours. The 10 hour per day schedule means a person is away from their home 12-14 hours. Even the alternate 9 schedule is a long day for most people (having every other Friday off).

A more sane schedule is 32 hours per week (four 8 hour days), allowing employees three days off. Since most people can't get their errands done during the week, they must do them on weekends. Running errands is work. People need time to relax and only having one day off isn't enough (when you are using the other day to run errands).

If we can't get a shorter workweek, let's at least work on getting more vacation time in the US. Unlike Europe, the US does not have a vacation law, so most Americans might get one or two weeks vacation per year, and because of layoffs and mergers, many people have lost their 4-5 week vacations.

ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON SHORTER WORKWEEK/MORE VACATION TIME:

The Work Less Party of Canada promotes a 4-day, 32-hour workweek.

The Five Day Weekend group from Asheville, NC promotes a 2-day workweek.

Take Back Your Time has launched a campaign for a vacation law in the US!

If you are interested in getting your life back and having more time off, please support these organizations! The links to these sites are on the left side of this blog.

Five-Day Weekend Organization in Asheville, NC

2007-05-10T02:13:00.000-07:00

I just found out about a new group in Asheville, NC that supports a five-day weekend, with two days of work.

Here's some information from their web site:

"The major goal of the Five Day Weekend is simple: We want to reverse the U.S. workweek so that Americans clock in for two good days of work, followed by five well-earned days off.

Why? Because overwork has become a major problem for Americans, and it's getting worse by the year. The two-day weekend was created in 1930, and despite decades of unparalleled technology growth, our people are actually working more and more each year."

For more information about this organization, visit http://www.fivedayweekend.org.

If you can successfully live off money earned in two days per week, then the Five-Day Weekend is a great idea! It might take living with several roommates, making all your own meals instead of eating out, shopping at thrift stores, driving an old car or going car-less, etc. It's all about making choices. In my opinion, part-time work is a great idea. Just don't expect to get a full benefit package, although you could get some benefits, depending upon the company you work for. You might also want to be your own boss and forget the benefits. After all, if you have five days off each week, it's like having a vacation every week. When you work less, you have less stress and less illness, so the benefits may not be as important as having the time off. Time off is the greatest benefit!

Commentary: Work Time and Global Warming

2007-05-10T02:03:00.000-07:00

By Charles Siegel (05-08-07)

As part of the Measure G process, Berkeley should consider policies to give employees the option of down-shifting economically by working less. Though it is not much talked about, choice of work hours is one key to dealing with global warming.

Today, the economy must grow in tandem with increased productivity, regardless of how much people actually want to consume. Because of improved technology, the average American worker produces about 2.3 percent more in an hour each year— which means that a worker produced eight times as much each hour in 2000 as in 1900. As long as work time remains constant, total output per worker grows by 2.3 percent a year, doubling every 33 years.

Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through conservation and cleaner fuels are likely to be overwhelmed by this constant increase in output. To stabilize world climate, we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions dramatically during this century, and there is little or no chance of doing this if per capita output grows eight-fold during this century. An alternative to this hyper-growth economy is to give people the option of reducing their work hours. This opens the possibility of using increased productivity to work fewer hours, rather than to produce and consume more. Yet most Americans today have no choice of work hours. Almost all good jobs are full time, while most part-time jobs have low pay and no benefits. The economist Juliet Schor found that, if the average American male worker reduced his hours by 20 percent, he would reduce his earnings by 50 percent, because part-time workers have lower wages and fewer benefits. (The average female worker would reduce her earnings by a bit less, because women are more likely to have worked part-time during part of their lives, and so they are already discriminated against.) To give people the opportunity to choose to work shorter hours, we need to:

• End discrimination against part-time workers. By law, part-time workers should have the same hourly earnings as full-time workers and should have equivalent benefits, seniority, and chance of promotion. The European Union already protects part-time workers from discrimination.

• Create high-quality part-time jobs: The Netherlands and Germany have laws saying that, if a full-time employee asks to work shorter hours, the employer must accommodate the request unless it will be a hardship to the business. As a weaker but still effective policy, we could give businesses tax incentives to their employees the option of working shorter hours. These policies would give Americans the option of working less and consuming less. Even a relatively small change could make a big difference.

The average American works 1,817 hours a year, and the average West European works 1,562 hours a year. A recent study by Harvard University economist Mark Weisbrot found that, if Americans worked as few hours as West Europeans, it would lower our energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent. More important, Weisbrot found that, if the developing nations imitate the American model of work hours, world temperatures will rise 4.5 degrees by 2050, all else being equal. But if the developing nations imitate the European model of work hours, world temperatures will rise by 2.5 degrees—a very substantial difference caused by work-time alone, apart from other policies to reduce emissions.

Moving to a European model of work hours would not involve any great sacrifice. On the contrary, I think that West Europeans are better off than Americans because they have more time for their families and their own interests, rather than having more freeways and bigger SUVs.

Berkeley took a leading role in promoting the civil rights movement and feminist movement during the 20th century. Now it is time for us to take a leading role in promoting the movement toward shorter work hours and simpler living that is a political imperative during the age of global warming.

Charles Siegel is the author of The End of Economic Growth.

NOTE: This article is from The Berkeley Daily Planet, Berkeley, California. For a more complete version of this article with graphs, see http://www.preservenet.com/studies/WorkTimeGlobalWarming.html.

Companies Allow Flexible Schedules

2007-03-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

This was from a recent article on MSNBC.com by Michelle Kosinski:

Best Buy corporate has invented a system called ROWE — Results-Only Work Environment — in which you go to the office only when you want to. The end result — how much you get done — is all that matters. Best Buy says productivity has jumped 35 percent, with turnover and low morale all but gone.

At Sun Microsystems they've saved some $400 million in real estate costs by allowing nearly half of all employees to work anywhere they want.

And at IBM, on any given day 42 percent of the global workforce does not go to the workplace.

MY NOTE: Even though these companies allow flextime, this doesn't necessarily mean employees are working shorter hours; in fact, they could be working more; however having flexibility in your schedule means less stress and certainly a happier employee!

Charles Siegel's Report on Work Time & Global Warming

2007-03-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

Charles Siegel, the Director of The Preservation Institute in Berkeley, California,
has written a brief paper saying that shorter work hours are a key to dealing with
global warming.  Here is the link for his report:

http://www.preservenet.com/studies/WorkTimeGlobalWarming.html

This is a four-page booklet written to make the general public aware of the issues
that are involved.  Charles supports choice of work hours rather than a shorter
standard workweek for several reasons.

ON SOCIAL GROUNDS: The standard work week is a relic of a time when families
generally were supported by one bread winner, but families are much more diverse
today. There is no reason for a father supporting a wife and three children to work
the same number of hours as a childless couple with two incomes.

ON POLITICAL GROUNDS: Changing the standard work week creates political problems,
because labor wants shorter hours without less pay, which business resists.
Allowing choice of work hours avoids this problem and focuses the political debate
on the real issue, that people should have the option of downshifting economically
and consuming less.

ON ECONOMIC GROUNDS: Choice of work hours allows people to maximize their own
well-being by choosing between more consumption and more free time. This is similar
to the economic choice between any two commodities.  It is a very basic point of
economic theory that, if you require people to consume a given amount, you reduce
overall well-being.  If we required everyone to buy a given amount of roast beef,
we would reduce the well being of people who don't like roast beef, and if we
require everyone to work a given number of hours, we reduce the well-being of
people who want to consume less (or more)overall than the average person.

ON POLITICAL AND SOCIAL GROUND AGAIN: As a reaction to global warming, there could
be a strong voluntary simplicity movement during the 21st century. Many people could
decide to work less and consume less to save the world's environment.  But people
can make this decision only if they have choice of work hours.  A voluntary
simplicity movement has to be based on this voluntary choice.

This blog entry was written by Charles Siegel of The Preservation Institute, Berkeley, 
California.  E-mail: preserve@preservenet.com or siegel@preservenet.com.

Thank you, Charles for sending me this information via the Shorter Worktime Group.

Shorter Workweek & the Environment

2007-01-13T15:03:00.000-08:00

Here is the link to a recent report from the CEPR (Center for Economic & Policy Research in Washington, DC) on shorter work hours and the environment. The title of the report is Are Shorter Work Hours Good for the Environment? A Comparison of U.S. and European Energy Consumption.

http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/energy_2006_12.pdf

In my opinion, the shorter workweek will give us more time, energy and reduce stress. It will also be good for the environment, as we will have one or more days per week where we are not commuting to a job. When we are not commuting via car, truck or bus, we are conserving fuel and not contributing to Global Warming. There would also be a lot less congestion on the freeways, which would mean less accidents and road rage.

How to Get Out of the 40+ Workweek: Work Part-Time!

2007-01-03T17:36:00.000-08:00

Have you given up trying to get your employer to give you a shorter workweek? Most companies in the US are on the standard workweek of 40 hours, and if you are lucky, you get some benefits from working those 40 hours. If you want a shorter workweek of 30-32 hours, for example, you could lose your benefits. Also, if you are used to a good salary, it may be hard for you to just give up your job. Remember, working 40+ hours per week gives you little time for family, friends, animal friends and leisure pursuits. Working too much can cause serious health problems as well.

For those of you willing to give up your job and try something new, you can either apply for part-time jobs (some part-time jobs have benefits) or start your own part-time business from home. Many part-time jobs are low-paying jobs, but if you downsize and learn to live simply, you can be happier making less money and working less than making more money and working more! There's a lot of information about part-time jobs on the Internet. Just Google the word "part-time" and see what comes up!

Also, once you start working part-time, you will be surprised at how much more relaxed you will be. There's more time for everything in your life when you work less! There are so many things you can do to cut back on your expenses: give up cable TV, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, etc. What about trading in your new, expensive car for a nice, used one or get rid of your car completely and buy a scooter, motorcycle or bicycle? You can downsize and live in a smaller home, and all your utility bills will be less when you live in a smaller space.

Some states have an insurance plan for people who meet certain income guidelines. If you work less and make less, chances are that you might qualify for their health plan too. You might also qualify for a reduction in your utility bills if your income is low. Do you want to work out and stay in shape? Some YMCA's offer a plan for people with low income and may have a scholarship as well. Always ask if there's any discount for low income.

The bottom line is don't be fearful of making less money. Give part-time work a try and see what happens. Also, as you get older, you probably will not want to work full-time. You may have heard stories of people working so hard, then they retired at 65 and dropped dead a few weeks later. My sister told me a story of a manager who worked in her company. He worked many years as a manager for this company. When he retired recently, they had a retirement party for him, and two weeks later, he was dead! Cause of death: heart attack. If you want to be a workaholic, go right ahead, but watch out. You can work, work, work and have more money, but what good is it if you've lost your health as a result?

Remember, Work LESS, Play MORE, Enjoy LIFE! That's our motto!

Shorter Workweek & Healthcare Benefits

2006-12-05T19:58:00.000-08:00

Many people in America work 40 hours per week because it gives them healthcare benefits such as medical, dental and vision; however many companies don't offer any healthcare benefits for full-time employees, and it seems that only larger companies offer the best benefits overall. The challenge (when you are wanting to work a shorter workweek) is how to maintain your current benefits or perhaps go outside the company to find a plan that you can afford. If you work half time (20 hours per week), your benefits may be cut in half as well. A large percentage of people work full-time just to get healthcare benefits, as they don't like their jobs, and they dislike working 40 hours per week.

Since the United States doesn't have a National Healthcare Plan, it means that you have to either be without insurance, purchase it at a very high cost or find a state that has a subsidized plan (such as Washington State's Basic Health Plan). Of course, with a plan such as Basic Heath, you can't earn over a certain amount, so it doesn't encourage a person to find a job that pays enough to live on.

A new book (published in 2005) entitled Uninsured in America: Life & Death in the Land of Opportunity by Susan Starr Sered and Rushika Fernandopulle lists some interesting resources in the back of their book. Some of the web sites mentioned are as follows:

http://www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org

http://covertheuninsured.org/stateguides/

http://www.ask.hrsa.gov/pc/

http://www.needymeds.com/

http://www.rxassist.org/

http://www.accessproject.org/

http://www.communitycatalyst.org/

http://www.familiesusa.org/

For more information about this book and to read the introduction, visit the following web site:

http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/10379/10379.intro.html

Michael Moore's newest film, Sicko, is scheduled to be out in the theaters sometime in 2007. On his web site, Michael states that Sicko is "a comedy about 45 million people with no health care in the richest country on earth." For more information about his film, visit http://www.michaelmoore.com.

There are a few companies in the United States that offer healthcare benefits for people working 20 hours a week, but they are usually service companies whose starting salaries are close to minimum wage, such as a coffee company and some grocery stores. Also these jobs are grueling and tiring, so they seem to attract very young workers, who never seem to need insurance anyway. We need a National Healthcare Plan in the US, and not one that is tied to employment; however, who knows how long it will take before we see changes in our healthcare system.

I know several people (over 45 years of age) who don't have any health insurance. They work for themselves, and most work a shorter workweek. Of course, they would like to have insurance, but they can't afford to pay for it. These people do not worry about not having it, as they mentioned that it doesn't do any good to worry. At least they are doing work they love and maintaining a good Work/Life balance.

I hope the above web sites and the book will be of some help to all of you.

Please leave comments here about how you manage to work a shorter workweek and maintain your health insurance.

Job Sharing - A Great Way to Get a Shorter Workweek

2006-12-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

It can be difficult to get a shorter workweek at your current place of employment, as so many companies are asking people to work MORE than 40 hours per week. A friend of mine works at a production plant (four 10-hour days). They were told yesterday they now have mandatory overtime and will now be working 12 hours per day Monday through Thursday AND 10 hours on Friday until a few days before Christmas. Can you imagine 12-hour days? I can't even imagine 10-hour days, and I don't like the 8-hour day either.

Today, I discovered a NEW web site for people who are interested in Job Sharing, http://www.jobshareconnection.com. The article where I found this web site was entitled "Share a job, keep a job" from today's St. Petersburg Times. I encourage you to check out this web site and let others know about it as well.

Job Sharing can be the answer to a Shorter Worktime advocate's dream. If you can work it out so that you only have to go into your office 2 days one week and 3 the next instead of 4 hours a day, five days a week, that would really help lower your gas expense as well as reduce your stress.

You may have a reduction in your benefits such as vacation, sick time and health care, but perhaps you can work that out with your employer. Overall, I believe this is one of the best ways to lower your working hours and have a better Work/Life balance.

Looking To Get Out of the Rat Race? Two New Books are a Must Read!

2006-11-16T14:26:00.000-08:00

Getting tired of the Rat Race? Have you been trying to get a Shorter Workweek for years, but the boss is not willing to listen? Are you tired of working Monday through Friday, and sometimes on Saturday with a 40+ hour workweek?

Two new books have been published that may offer you some hope as well as new ideas:

Real Success Without a Real Job: There Is No Life Like It! by Canadian author Ernie J. Zelinski

How to be Free by British author Tom Hodgkinson

Ernie's web site is http://www.thejoyofnotworking.com

Tom's web site is http://www.idler.co.uk

People for a Shorter Workweek also has a book list of very interesting books that can help you on your road to recovery from the Rat Race. Please email us at moreleisure @ yahoo dot com with a "Request for the PSW Booklist" in the subject line.

Slow Down Now

2006-11-12T17:08:00.000-08:00

This is a hilarious animation about overwork and our frenzied lives from SlowDownNow.org web site! Make sure you have your speakers turned on.

http://www.slowdownnow.org/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,31/

New Web Sites

2006-11-12T12:53:00.000-08:00

Hello Shorter Worktime Advocates,

We have added some new and interesting web sites, which we hope you will enjoy.

Cheers!

Jean
Work LESS, Play MORE, Enjoy LIFE!

SAS in Cary, NC Has a 35-Hour Workweek

2006-10-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

SAS in Cary, NC was one of the first companies to offer a shorter workweek. In 1976, when the company was founded by CEO Jim Goodnight, SAS established a flexible work schedule along with a 35 hour workweek. They also have a variety of employee-friendly perks.

In 1983, they established an on-site health care center, and in 1984, they opened their on-site recreation and fitness center. All programs and services in this center are free to employees. They also established a wellness program.

In 1992, SAS developed a Work Life Initiatives Department and was listed in the book, 100 Best Companies to Work for in America.

In 1998, SAS was named in two business books recognizing companies with outstanding employee-friendly practices, Contented Cows Give Better Milk and Good Company.

This year (2006), SAS celebrates their 30 year anniversary. Also, this is SAS' ninth straight year on FORTUNE's list of "100 Best Companies to Work For".

For more information about SAS, visit their web site at http://www.sas.com.

PepsiCo Offers Employees Shorter Workweek During the Summer

2006-02-02T19:09:00.000-08:00

From an article dated February 1, 2006 on The Society for Human Resource Management web site:

"The HR managers polled, whose organizations ranged in size from fewer than 25 employees to more than 2,000, cited the following strategies they use to keep employees from riding off into the sunset:

• Provide a workplace that respects, encourages and enables work/life balance, and provide a workplace “brand” experience that satisfies workers on many levels. Yahoo! offers on-site dental services at some of its locations, for example, and PepsiCo offers employees a shorter workweek during the summer to give them greater personal time, the report noted."

Several other strategies were listed. The entire article can be viewed at this address: http://www.shrm.org/hrnews_published/CMS_015681.asp

If you want to contact PepsiCo and congratulate them on offering their employees a shorter workweek during the summer, you can write to the CEO at the following address:

STEVEN S. REINEMUND (He has been PepsiCo’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since May 2001)
Address:
PepsiCo, Inc.
700 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577
(914) 253-2000
Web site: http://www.pepsico.com

Indiana Company Has a 30/40 Plan for Production Workers

2006-01-30T21:15:00.000-08:00

When Metro Plastics Technologies in Columbus, Indiana, couldn't find enough workers for its production line, it decided to implement a radical "30/40" plan: Offer people 30 hours of work for 40 hours of pay. The company was soon flooded with applicants. Here is the information about the company. We should all congratulate this company for using "Timesizing" technology! (See link to Timesizing.com on the left side of my blog). Note: Send your letters and emails to the President's attention - check their web site for the current President's name.

METRO PLASTICS TECHNOLOGIES, INDIANA
http://www.metroplastics.com
Metro Plastics Technologies, Inc. 9175 East 146th Street, P.O. Box 1208 - Noblesville, IN 46061-1208 Voice: (317) 776-0860
E-mail: info@metroplastics.com

The 40-Hour Workweek...Why it's TOO LONG

2005-12-25T20:07:00.000-08:00

The 40-Hour Workweek

The 40-hour workweek has been around for a long time. Many years ago, men worked outside the home, and the women stayed home and cared for the children and the home. When the man came home from work, dinner was ready, the house was clean and his slippers and paper were ready for him. After the 40-hour workweek, his evenings and weekends were completely free, giving him more time for himself and his family. Very few women worked, and many single women lived at home with their family until they married. Also, people worked very close to their home, so they did not have “commuter stress.”

Today, both men and women work outside the home. Single parents have to care for children, pets and a home without a spouse. Single people without children don’t have a spouse to share home responsibilities. Very few married women are able to stay home with their children while their husbands work.

The 40-hour workweek does not allow enough downtime for our body, mind and spirit. We have no time for exercise, civic responsibilities, volunteer work and taking classes to expand our mind. The small amount of time in the evenings during the workweek gets used up quickly, as commuting takes a big chunk of our time. With only two days off, many people spend one day just running errands. After all, we have to eat, get our tires rotated, head to the post office to mail a package, etc. Doctors and dentists are only open during the week; so many people have to take vacation time for these appointments since they work five days a week. This leaves us even less time for a real vacation.

In a 24 hour day during the workweek, if you subtract 8 hours for work, 8 for sleeping, 1 for showering and getting ready, minimum 1 for commute time, 3 hours for eating all meals for the day, cleaning up dishes, taking out the trash, and 1 hour for running a couple of errands after or before work (or at lunch), you have a mere 2 hours left for yourself in the evenings!

Working 4 days, 8 hours per day allows us more time for rest, relaxation and family. It also gives us time to run errands during the week when businesses are open. We can visit an art museum or library, sit in a hammock and listen to the birds, have tea at a teahouse, go camping or run a 5-k road race for some exercise. Sufficient downtime from work is crucial to our well-being, and if we don’t get enough of it, our health suffers. We also need to practice s-l-o-w-i-n-g down during our time off. Learning how to relax may not be easy, especially if you are used to working at break-neck speed, but it can be done! Deep breathing throughout the day helps tremendously, relaxing body, mind and spirit.

Welcome to the People for a Shorter Workweek Blog!

2005-12-25T19:13:00.000-08:00

Hi,

This is a new blog for People for a Shorter Workweek! I will be posting ideas, suggestions, book reviews, etc. We are working on a web site for PSW and will let everyone know when it is up and running.

Welcome!

Jean