Medieval peasants got more vacation time than modern workers (2013)
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Medieval peasants got more vacation time than modern workers (2013)
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Re: Medieval peasants got more vacation time than modern workers (2013)
#2I would prefer just the facts. Is it true that medieval peasants got so much vacation? When, where and how exactly? The article mentions many things, but they're left quite unsubstantiated. I know I could do the research on my own, but probably the article would be more valuable with more of the what and less of the why.
Re: Medieval peasants got more vacation time than modern workers (2013)
#3Because he didn't have a choice. If he could trade this vacation for more food, medication for his children, or many other resources, he gladly would - but I don't think that as a peasant in the winter you really could make anything out of your time without a capitalist society and other jobs.
All modern people have a choice about how much time they spend at their jobs. I've switched to 3-day workweek sometimes, raking 50% cut in salary; turns out, if you're not in a leading position, it's painfully obvious to negotiate. People in first world countries don't need to work 40 hours a week to avoid starvation. We do it out of our own free will, because we want more stuff.
And, out of this personal experience - because we don't really have anything better to do with our time. Even a regular, a bit boring job beats sitting around the house and watching TV. Driving your own personal projects requires a significant amount of motivation and willpower, and most of us would be too ashamed to admit that we lack it.
Re: Medieval peasants got more vacation time than modern workers (2013)
#4Because he didn't have a choice. If he could trade this vacation for more food, medication for his children, or many other resources, he gladly would - but I don't think that as a peasant in the winter you really could make anything out of your time without a capitalist society and other jobs. All modern people have a choice about how much time they spend at their jobs. I've switched to 3-day workweek sometimes, raki…
I don't think it's true that peasants would have worked more if given the option, nor that most people have a realistic option to negotiate to work less hours today.
Re: Medieval peasants got more vacation time than modern workers (2013)
#5I would prefer just the facts. Is it true that medieval peasants got so much vacation? When, where and how exactly? The article mentions many things, but they're left quite unsubstantiated. I know I could do the research on my own, but probably the article would be more valuable with more of the what and less of the why.
The links to the resources are black, without an underline. So, if you search for the phrase "the economist Juliet Shor" it takes you to a book review by MIT CSAIL.
http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/users/rauch/worktime/hours_w...
Re: Medieval peasants got more vacation time than modern workers (2013)
#6The USA are abolishing themselves...
> In Germany, an economic powerhouse, workers rank second to last in number of hours worked. Despite more time off, German workers are the eighth most productive in Europe, while the long-toiling Greeks rank 24 out of 25 in productivity.
Work smart, not hard.
Re: Medieval peasants got more vacation time than modern workers (2013)
#7I would prefer just the facts. Is it true that medieval peasants got so much vacation? When, where and how exactly? The article mentions many things, but they're left quite unsubstantiated. I know I could do the research on my own, but probably the article would be more valuable with more of the what and less of the why.
Maybe this is more your speed. http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/users/rauch/worktime/hours_w...
Re: Medieval peasants got more vacation time than modern workers (2013)
#8The USA are abolishing themselves... > In Germany, an economic powerhouse, workers rank second to last in number of hours worked. Despite more time off, German workers are the eighth most productive in Europe, while the long-toiling Greeks rank 24 out of 25 in productivity. Work smart, not hard.
Working long hours in an office job has nothing to do with productivity; it's an abstract form of signaling your commitment to the job.
Re: Medieval peasants got more vacation time than modern workers (2013)
#9> In addition to relaxing during long holidays, the medieval peasant took his sweet time eating meals, and the day often included time for an afternoon snooze.
I have serious doubts about this. Maybe someone could provide additional insight. I doubt all time not working the fields was "relaxing during long holidays". It would likely be spent on other chores.
Food was likely not plentiful (when it is, population explodes), so quaffing ale for a week is not impossible for a rich wedding, but unlikely in general. In my childhood I lived near rural areas (not US) and in the days when farm hands cannot do anything (rain; off season) they tend to just get drunk which, to me, hardly qualifies as a vacation time.
Bottom line: I would not want to swap positions with the 14th century peasant and I suspect the author would not want to, either.
Re: Medieval peasants got more vacation time than modern workers (2013)
#10Note the significant difference between "leisure time" as in "playing games, socializing and making merry" and just "huddling in a primitive hut waiting for a chance to work more." It's not like he's having much fun (unless you include all the begatting that must have gone on during the winter months...)
I'm really lucky that I don't generally want more things, and the things I do want are cheap. Living in the future is freaking amazing if you enjoy making things.