Why Do We Work 5 Days? A History You Didn't Know

Our modern concept of a workweek, with its clear division between weekdays dedicated to labor and weekends for rest and leisure, feels almost natural. But scratch beneath the surface, and you'll find a fascinating story of human need for balance.

The very idea of a seven-day week, as author Witold Rybczynski pointed out in a 1991 Atlantic article, seems a bit arbitrary. Unlike the year, which neatly reflects Earth's journey around the sun, or the month, roughly aligned with lunar cycles, the seven-day structure is entirely man-made.

Yet, the concept of a dedicated rest period has deep roots. Ancient civilizations like the Babylonians incorporated a day of respite every seven days, often tied to religious practices. This tradition likely arose from a practical understanding – the need for both focused work and periodic renewal to sustain a healthy cycle of productivity and well-being. Interestingly, the Babylonians even named the days of the week after celestial bodies they observed, a naming convention that persists in many cultures today (think Sunday for the Sun, Monday for the Moon). Over time, the seven-day framework became ingrained in numerous cultures and religions, evolving alongside the activities associated with weekdays and weekends.

The Weekend: A (Mostly) Universal Tradition

Historically, some Muslim-majority nations observed a Thursday-Friday weekend, often tied to their religious observances. However, in recent decades, many of these countries, including powerhouses like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have transitioned to a Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday weekend.

This shift can be attributed, in large part, to the desire for smoother global trade and collaboration. Aligning with the most common weekend format facilitates international business interactions and reduces disruptions caused by mismatched schedules.

A Brief Not-So-Natural History

Early evidence points to Judaism adopting a continuous seven-day cycle with a designated rest day sometime before the 6th century BC. Fast forward to the 18th century, the French Revolution throws a curveball with their 10-day week experiment, complete with a dedicated leisure day. They thought that if royalty demanded it then it should be rid of. The Soviet Union also dabbled in non-traditional workweeks during the early 20th century, using a mix of five and six-day cycles with rotating rest days assigned by color or number.

Meanwhile, across the globe in China's Han Dynasty, officials enjoyed a "day for rest and washing one's hair" every five days.

The concept of a longer weekend, however, emerged much later in the industrialized world. By the mid-19th century, factory workers were putting in grueling 70-hour weeks, with precious little time for rest. It wasn't until the early 19th century in Britain that the idea of a weekend gained traction. Here, it began as a voluntary agreement between factory owners and workers. Owners offered Saturday afternoons off, starting at 2 pm, with the hope that a well-rested workforce would return on Monday morning, ready to be productive. Interestingly, the term "weekend" itself first appeared in a British magazine called Notes and Queries in 1879.

Finally, in 1926, Henry Ford played a huge role in solidifying the weekend as we know it. By shutting down his factories for the entire weekend, Ford recognized the value of leisure time for his workers. He believed a two-day break would encourage activities like vacations and shopping, ultimately boosting the economy.

From Dawn to Dusk: Why the 8-Hour Workday?

The Industrial Revolution in late 18th-century Europe was a time of booming factories and rapid technological advancement. But for workers, it meant brutal reality – gruelingly long hours. Samuel H.G. Kidd, writing in 1857 about the British labor movement, described a grim scene: "factory children, weary and barefoot, trudging to work through rain and snow as dawn barely broke."

The tide began to turn in the 1830s. Workers, fed up with exploitation, started demanding change. "Short Time Committees" emerged across England, advocating for a 10-hour workday. Their efforts culminated in the Factories Act of 1847, a legislative victory that limited working hours.

The fight for shorter workdays soon spread across the Atlantic. Inspired by their British counterparts, American workers began pushing for a shift from the standard 12- or even 14-hour days to a more manageable 10-hour schedule.

However, the real push for the 8-hour day came after the Civil War. With a flood of returning soldiers and newly freed African Americans seeking jobs, labor advocates worried about a race to the bottom – longer hours and lower wages for everyone. "Eight-Hour Leagues" formed around the country, rallying behind the slogan "Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, and eight hours for what we will."

World War I, with its massive demand for workers, finally proved to be the tipping point. The need for increased productivity propelled the 8-hour workday into mainstream practice for most workers. However, it would be a much longer road before federal regulations addressed the length of the work week.

The Rise of the 4-Day Workweek

The traditional five-day workweek might be facing a challenger: the four-day work model.

In cultures with a four-day workweek, the typical three days of rest often align with the dominant religion: Friday for Muslims, Saturday for Jews and Adventists, and Sunday for Christians.

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for change, with several governments launching pilot programs to test the viability of a shorter workweek.

Iceland conducted two significant trials between 2015 and 2019. The trials involved over 2,500 workers who transitioned to a 35-hour workweek (down from 40) with no cut in pay. The results were promising. Employees reported a dramatic increase in well-being, improved work-life balance, and reduced stress levels. Interestingly, productivity either held steady or even improved in most workplaces, according to a report by Autonomy, a UK think tank, and the Icelandic Association for Sustainable Democracy.

It's important to note that these trials focused on reduced working hours, not necessarily a compressed four-day schedule. Daily hours went from 40 to 35 or 36. Additionally, while the study is considered a success (with 86% of wage earners ultimately receiving permanent reductions in work hours), the vast majority of workplaces opted for smaller reductions (around 3 hours per week) rather than a full eight-hour day cut needed for a true four-day model. Following the trials, negotiated agreements typically resulted in reductions of an hour or less per week.

Despite these nuances, the Icelandic experiment offers compelling evidence that a shorter workweek can be beneficial for both employees and employers. As the world continues to grapple with work-life balance and worker well-being, the four-day workweek is sure to remain a topic of discussion and experimentation.