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Birth of the Weekend |
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Today marks 100 years
since Ford Motor Company became one of the first American companies to
officially adopt the five-day, 40-hour workweek
for factory workers, a decision that reshaped work-life balance. Henry Ford’s idea to
eliminate Saturday from the workweek initially met hesitation from some
hourly workers worried about reduced pay. However, his daily wages of $5 to
$6—roughly double the industry average—helped to ease concerns (read 1920s reactions).
Ford reportedly redirected Saturday wages to hire thousands more people for
Monday through Friday shifts, reducing unemployment. The move also boosted
productivity, reduced turnover, strengthened morale, and gave workers more
leisure time, some of which they spent buying and traveling in Ford
cars. The US formally codified
the 40-hour workweek in 1940, mandating overtime pay for hourly employees.
More recently, momentum has grown around four-day workweeks, with the largest trial yet suggesting
they could improve productivity and well-being. ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with NCOFCU.org
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