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I'd love this but I don't see it happening right now. There doesn't seem to be any momentum for improving workers lives at this time.
Get active! Agitate! At least actively propose and defend all suggestions towards the betterment of working people. The establishment thrives on passivity.
I do wonder how effective this would be if for example a multinational can simply withdraw from Belgium or even the EU :-( Even if the argument was made that it was more efficient or at least not less efficient than the status quo, a lot of these companies have a very heavy US-biased view on work-life-balance (see for for example the current RTO initiatives as well).
The EU is the biggest single market in the world. Absolutely no multinationals are leaving because of improved worker conditions.
The measures planned for Huntsman include reducing the presence in several European countries. “As too Moving to facilities that reflect the company’s future needs and an intention to move some jobs to new locations note that is HQ (not a plant, ie driven by energy costs). Also note that they reference inflation, but this 'only' impacts this place by means of wage cost. The HQ is being relocated to a place with 'better' conditions (in the EU for now, but mainly Poland).
Soooo, they aren’t leaving lol
Their plan is definitely to leave locations where working conditions are not in their favor. Not so lol for the people losing their jobs, though right? :-(
Yeah, that’s what capitalists have always done. That’s no reason to not fight for better working conditions.
I'd much rather have a general work reduction: 30 hour weeks please!
I found that even one additional hour per day to spend on family and enjoyment was improving my work output in a way that it almost negated the one hour of worktime lost.
It may be depended on the type of work, but many of the trials being held around this seems to point out that production or quality doesn't lower and general well-being increases. Although I'd argue that a reduction in production isn't really a problem: we're very productive in our country as it is; (over)production adds to waste and pollution; and any shortage in production can be compensated by just hiring more people.
You misconstrue what old fashioned employers interpret when they see this. They see people have an extra vdayvof productivity in them and they're lazy for not giving it.
I'd honestly prefer the four day workweek, as in four days of working eight hours. But seeing as the employers' lobby and their cronies will never let that happen, some additional holidays would be nice.
I think it depends on your personal state of mind. Some people might enjoy being deconnected more and others just the additional 'buffer' of time around worktime.
I don't enjoy working to begin with in the current economic system in any way. Most work, including mine is busy work to keep the infinite growth bubble from popping. Keeping the bubble alive is why a four day workweek will not happen any time soon. There's a shortage of people able to do the work that's needed. So decreasing the hours these people are available goes against the self interest of the rich.