New Economic Foundation Suggests 21-Hour Working Week

A report by the New Economic Foundation (NEF), an influential think tank, has recommended that the working week should be shortened to just 21 hours.

The NEF argues that this radical change would help to tackle a number of current problems, including over-consumption, high unemployment, inequality and poor work/life balance.

The effects of the potential pension time-bomb which the UK could be facing in the future would also be lessened, as working less hours a week should ensure that employees remain fit enough to work in later life. (http://www.ashbycohen.co.uk/employees.aspx)

As an example of how this could work, the report points to Utah, where the state decided in 2008 to put all public-sector workers on a four-day week, and made significant energy savings, reduced absenteeism and increased productivity.