In a very detailed article, Sara Robinson of AlterNet presents many compelling points to bring back the 40-hour work week. 150 years of research proves that long hours at work kill profits, productivity and employees. I totally agree with the point that most managers use a single, warped, easy-to-chart metric to measure passion: a willingness to spend your entire life at work.
Some interesting points include: overtime works in short spurts only; the rise of Silicon Valley started the transformation away from the 40-hour work week; the productivity of knowledge workers is even more susceptible to long hours than industiral workers.
The author implies that de-unionization has contributed to the downfall of the 40-hour work week. While I don't dispute that, I do not think we need to re-establish the union movement either to get our lives back. Unions served a purpose years ago. But in today's global economy, that need has become marginalized. Especially related to a 40-hour work week, the bigger need is for a change in attitude on the part of both employees and employers.
The "churn and burn employees" concept just doesn't work over the long-term. Using a running metaphor, we need to treat work like a marathon, not a sprint. If not, we will endure a career of many stops and starts, pulled muscles, hyper-ventilating, nausea, cramps, and shin splints. No thanks.
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