Shorter working week inevitable, says new nef research :: wasteaction.org.uk

A range of social, environmental and economic pressures could see people adopting a much shorter working week, says a new report from nef...

The combined effect of the economic downturn, an increasingly divided and unequal society and the consequences of global climate change, could result in a mere 21 hours of work a week becoming the norm.

nef believes that possibility of doing less paid work should be seen as a major opportunity, rather than a threat. With the right safeguards in place, a 21-hour working week could help us address a range of urgent, interlinked problems: overwork, unemployment, overconsumption, high carbon emissions, low well-being, entrenched inequalities and the lack of time to care for each other and simply enjoy life. Business would also benefit from more rounded employees, who would be less stressed and more productive.

The report makes clear that the transition to this new working paradigm must be carefully managed over a decade or more to minimise negative effects on people on low incomes. nef recommends implementing progressive taxation, a higher minimum wage and better public services to offset the negative impact on earnings. We shall also need to change expectations about how much is ‘enough’ and how much we need to live satisfying lives.