The Evolution of the Eight-Hour Workday in the United States

In the United States, the standard workday of eight hours, five days a week has become deeply ingrained in our culture. Dolly Parton even immortalized it in her 1980 song “9 to 5.” But it’s important to recognize that this work schedule wasn’t always the norm. The path to the eight-hour workday was a complex and evolving journey, shaped by a combination of labor actions, advocacy, political compromises, pioneering employers, and economic factors.

The Length of the Workday Over the Years To understand how we arrived at the eight-hour workday, we must first consider the historical context. In the mid-1800s, it was commonplace for people to work grueling 70-plus hour weeks, typically spread over six days. This equated to roughly 12 hours of labor per day. Such long working hours took a toll on workers’ health and quality of life.

In the early 20th century, there were instances of even more extreme working hours. For example, at the end of World War I, blast furnace workers in the steel industry often toiled for a staggering 84 hours per week. These excessively long hours led to protests and strikes, and eventually, some changes began to take shape.

Pioneering Employers and a Six-Hour Workday In 1926, the Ford Motor Company, led by Henry Ford, famously implemented an eight-hour workday, five days a week. This move set a precedent for other companies to follow suit and contributed to the gradual reduction of working hours.

During the Great Depression, high unemployment rates led to a unique proposition—a six-hour workweek. Cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg adopted this idea in 1930, implementing six-hour shifts in place of the traditional eight-hour ones, with some pay reductions. This decision allowed Kellogg to rehire previously laid-off workers and provide employment opportunities to the unemployed. It was also motivated by Kellogg’s belief that giving workers more leisure time was socially beneficial. Within two years, employees were earning the same amount in six hours that they previously earned in eight.

Kellogg’s move attracted national attention and sparked a push for federal legislation to mandate a six-hour workday. However, a bill aiming to temporarily introduce a 30-hour workweek, which passed in the Senate, failed in the House of Representatives. Nevertheless, in 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) into law. This act encouraged employers to voluntarily adopt 35- to 40-hour workweeks and establish minimum wage standards. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court later ruled the NIRA unconstitutional due to a provision related to chicken slaughter.

Enter the Fair Labor Standards Act Despite the setback with the NIRA, efforts to improve labor conditions persisted. In the late 1930s, lawmakers and labor unions collaborated to create a comprehensive solution. This led to the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938, signed into law by President Roosevelt. The act established several critical labor standards, including the requirement for employers to pay overtime to employees working more than 40 hours per week.

The Perpetual Tradeoff Between Time and Money The Kellogg six-hour workday, which employees initially embraced, did not endure. By the late 1950s, the majority of workers had reverted to the traditional eight-hour workday. Those who continued with the shorter schedule were primarily women, and they clung to it until the mid-1980s. Interviews with these workers revealed that the need for more income consistently outweighed the desire for shorter work hours. Leisure and free time gradually lost their value as people prioritized financial stability.

Today, the tradeoff between time and money remains relevant for working adults, but with a new twist. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a reevaluation of how much time people are willing to devote to work versus other important aspects of life, such as family and personal well-being.

Navigating the future, we contemplate whether younger generations, including Gen Z and Millennials, will chart unique courses in seeking a harmonious work-life balance. The pandemic has reignited conversations regarding the potential for living more fulfilling lives while effectively juggling work responsibilities. The previously immovable eight-hour workday might once more be subject to renegotiation. The evolution of work persists, and today’s decisions will shape tomorrow’s work culture.