this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2024
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[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 month ago

What was the 12 hour work day designed around? The 10 hour one?

There is a conspiracy at play, but it isn't the one described here. It's MUCH more boring: the markets punish deviating from constructed labour norms. It's why when Microsoft announces layoffs every tech company does the same. It has nothing to do with the reality of every balance sheet. It's just placating the market.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This doesn't really make sense at all when you think about it. There's not some corporate council that makes decisions like "okay we're making the 8 hour workday because it benefits...other corporations in completely different industries."

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Yes but it does provide context as to why corporations are against shortening the work day. It helps understand their motivations and why they would want longer work days even though in theory they could get away with working people for less days and then pay them for less.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Bullshit. If I wasn't tired, broke, and hungry I'd spend way more than I do on gratifying myself. I spend purely on necessity, never my personal happiness because I can't FUCKING AFFORD TO!

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The convenience thing hits home for me in a big way tho. There are a TON of purchases I make a certain way just because a place has it at a time I'm actually able to get it or is close enough that I have the time to go there and pick it up cause I work so damn much or they are just willing to drop it off when I'm not home... Cuz I'm at work.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

True. But if you had time, I'd bet you'd spend more for what you want rather than what you need.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Maybe, but that probably doesn't translate to spending more in total, or at least you'd get better value per dollar. The less value you get per dollar, the better for the owning class.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

The convenience thing makes sense. The rest however, not so much. If I had more free time I'd spend more on my hobbies and interests.

I think it's more that change is scary. Companies have done 8 hour days with 5 days a week, and it's worked. There's risk in breaking that formula.

I also don't buy into that stat of only actually getting about 3 hours of work done in an 8 hour day. My work place has a job and knock policy and everyone averages around 8 hours. Even if that stat is right, perhaps people need a level of down time and socialisation time during the day, rather than having to work like a machine for 3 hours.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The point is that if you have free time you end up doing hobbies like breeding hot peppers, geocaching, painting, playing a musical instrument, etc not paying for Netflix subscriptions, buying alcohol to numb the pain of your existence and dropping fat stacks in Macdonald's because you're too exhausted to make a proper meal.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

A lot of hobbies are ludicrously expensive tho right? I mean I feel like people would still be spending the money left and right. And probably traveling a lot more too. But maybe this is saying they want to keep the money in a specific sector or something idk

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Yeah but, not as expensive as being broke and miserable.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

I think its more since you don't have enough free time you spend an half hour or an hour watching a show maybe while getting housework done over doing a hobby.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

this tracks for me.