Monday Matters- Marking Period 4 Week 2

For your own sake, stop working so hard

Americans work more hours and take less days off than people around the world. Furthermore, the productivity of the American worker has increased fourfold since the 1950s even as buying power of wages has not. During this time of economic troubles, it may seem counter-intuitive to advocate working less. But these economic troubles are not due to low productivity or corporate profitability, but rather corporate greed. The American corporate culture focused on profits is unsustainable and destructive to the long-term health of the economy (not to mention the health of the workers). Shorter workweeks would spread out the workload and give jobs to the unemployed, give Americans more leisure and family time, and even help to lower America's energy consumption.
I think that the idea of people being *too* hardworking is certainly revelation to my life, as well as the lives of most people I know. I am especially interested in the cultural differences regarding work between America and other countries, and I think it would be interesting to research more on that aspect. For example, I know that in Europe taking afternoon siestas is common, and I think it would be interesting to research to benefits of siestas on overall health and well being.