Some companies in Sweden are testing a six-hour work day • Hacker News Board

Re: Some companies in Sweden are testing a six-hour work day

#101

Post by aianus » Thu, Oct 01, 2015, 6:38 PM UTC

e12e wrote: post #67

aianus wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would you pay them the same? Hire 14% more workers, work them 35h instead of 40h, and pay them 14% less each. Costs the same, doesn't it?

How will they afford housing? Pay their student loans? Buy food? Besides, if they generate the same value - why would you pay them less?

Every full-time job I've ever had in the US paid very well but there was no time to spend any of it because I was at work all the time. Anyways, if your budget is that tight an extra 6 hours a week would let you live further from work / drive an uber / cook more / whatever to fill in the gaps.

> Besides, if they generate the same value - why would you pay them less?

The parent to my comment was referring to shift work like nurses where you can't generate the same value in less time -- somebody has to be there.

Re: Some companies in Sweden are testing a six-hour work day

#102

Post by aianus » Thu, Oct 01, 2015, 6:48 PM UTC

Retra wrote: post #91

aianus wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I don't want children of my own because they're ridiculously expensive, why should I subsidize yours? There's no reason a private employer should pay you more because you want a kid.

Children are not personal property, they are a cultural resource, and it is perfectly acceptable to make people invest in the important parts of their culture. If you don't like it, give back all your state-printed social-agreement-enforcing cash and make your own monopoly money to hoard. You, as a participant in an economy, have social responsibilities. Caring for the next generation is a big one.

> Children are not personal property, they are a cultural resource

You're entitled to that opinion, as am I to the opposite one. Thankfully it would appear the United States as a whole is on my side.

Re: Some companies in Sweden are testing a six-hour work day

#103

Post by _Codemonkeyism » Fri, Oct 02, 2015, 12:09 PM UTC

perfunctory wrote: post #85

anon4 wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. Employers want to get 40h work out of every employee 2. Employees don't want to take a 20% cut to their salary

It's all a matter of negotiation, isn't it. You never get what you never ask for.

No success yet, but if you find a company that pays a CTO with 4x8h give me a call.

Re: Some companies in Sweden are testing a six-hour work day

#104

Post by Retra » Fri, Oct 02, 2015, 3:56 PM UTC

aianus wrote: post #102

Retra wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Children are not personal property, they are a cultural resource, and it is perfectly acceptable to make people invest in the important parts of their culture. If you don't like it, give back all your state-printed social-agreement-enforcing cash and make your own monopoly money to hoard. You, as a participant in an economy, have social responsibilities. Caring for the next generation is a big one.

> Children are not personal property, they are a cultural resource You're entitled to that opinion, as am I to the opposite one. Thankfully it would appear the United States as a whole is on my side.

Yes, thankfully we have to pay for our own children's education, transportation, food, and healthcare because nobody pays taxes. Truly, this makes the US a wonderful place.

Re: Some companies in Sweden are testing a six-hour work day

#105

Post by Havoc » Sat, Oct 03, 2015, 12:55 PM UTC

nickff wrote: post #38

skwirl wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm kind of Ok with letting other countries try this one out first. I'm receptive to the idea of basic income, but the potential unintended consequences seem terrifying.

If anyone is to try this, the states are ideal candidates. People can (and do) vote with their feet when states implement negative policies, which is one reason they are "laboratories of democracy". In addition, it is clear that they have the consitutional authority to do this (while the federal government does not).

>If anyone is to try this, the states are ideal candidates.

I'm inclined to disagree. It'll be easier to implement in a place like say Canada or a northern European country where there is already wide acceptance of social support structures.