Americans are working less

[HemiEd]

I have my own theories on this, such as the stay at home working during covid and the stimulus money being the worst thing that has happened in a very long time.


Why Americans Are Working Less

Gallup finds that average hours worked have dropped progressively since 2019 when U.S. employees reported working an average of 44.1 hours. In 2024, they work 42.9 hours per week.

The decline in hours worked is more pronounced among younger (those younger than 35) than older workers (those aged 35 and older). Between 2019 and 2024, older employees have seen an average reduction of just under one hour per person per week, while younger employees have reduced their hours by nearly two hours.

Over a year, that’s the equivalent of older employees taking an extra week off of work and younger employees taking two weeks. These trends apply to full-time employees working at least 30 hours per week.

Possible Reasons for the Drop in Average Hours Worked per Week
Several new findings may explain this shift:

Overall employee wellbeing has been on the decline.
Employees now have less trust in institutions in general and feel more detached from their employers.
After a decade of steady improvement, employee engagement has reverted to its 2014 level.
Advances in technology may be making work more efficient. Gallup finds that nearly half (45%) of employees say AI has helped them improve their productivity. However, a workforce that is becoming more technically efficient and less engaged may lack the motivation needed for long-term growth.
Employees -- especially younger ones -- now place a higher priority on their overall wellbeing. In fact, work-life balance and better overall wellbeing now rank among the most important considerations when choosing a new job.
Additionally, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows declines in overall hours worked per person, particularly in industries that traditionally employ more young workers such as retail, leisure and hospitality.

The Connection Between Hours Worked and Employee Burnout
Burnout may be a major reason why employees are working fewer hours. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified “burnout” as a work-related syndrome resulting from chronic stress.

Previous Gallup research has found that an unmanageable workload is one of the contributing factors to burnout. This may help explain why employees report higher burnout (very often or always) as the number of hours they work rises above 45 hours per week.

more here

https://www.gallup.com/workplace/658...78644b3aaad4a0

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by ghak99

A lot of retail now has strict policies to keep their employees below 40 hours. There's other company policies that limits many employees to under 32? hours. This limit is set based on state definitions of a full time employees.

That was actually in place all the way back when I was in high school. If I got close to 40 hours at the dishwasher/cook/busboy job I had, they'd sub me out. The employees said this was so we wouldn't get any paid vacation, but I suspect maybe there were some other benefits as well. Maybe overtime pay? The boss would never even let us get close to ensure that we didn't accidentally sneak over the hour limit.

In my first job after college, I was at a huge company, and at some point the overseers bumped us up to 50 or 60 hours for about six months to try to meet some important deadline. I got time-and-a-half pay, and if I had smoked cigars I would have been lighting them with hundred-dollar bills. I felt rich whenever I'd see those paychecks.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

I don't know if I would make a definite statement on that as I think it comes down to company culture more than remote or on site. I feel more connected with my current role now, where I am remote 99.9% of the time than I did vs the last on site role I held.

The team I was on for the on site role was treated like a bastard stepchild so didn't really care beyond the check and free ticket perk.

In this role there's more integration among the teams, across the board and they fly me in once a year for a brief on site visit. The other 362 days I am half way across the country.

The job in between was fully remote and everyone kept to themselves. It was terrible and I was glad to leave.

Originally Posted by DaFace

Probably depends on the company culture a bit. The job I had from 2021-2024 was fully remote (with occasional days in the office, but not much), and I felt very connected there. But we did a lot to foster that - multiple standup meetings a week, recurring 1:1s with team members to connect, a time every other week to collaborate and brainstorm on big-picture challenges. I'm still close friends with a few from my team.

And then we got a new Chief Product Officer who laid off my entire team despite our former CEO calling us one of the most impactful teams in the organization. So again, it's a little tough to feel motivated to work hard when a random shift in executive leadership can result in you getting booted out of nowhere.

I'd think simply experience, too... when I got into my current industry, being in the office didn't really connect me to the job, but I was basically an IT vendor and going out to vendor sites is what made it stick.

Working remotely now and even switching jobs doesn't change anything in terms of job connection.

I'd imagine that's similar for a lot of experienced people, too... you'll be connected more to the work regardless of where you work from.

I'd also guess it could be an issue for people who are newer to the work force, never personally meeting the people you work with or work for, etc.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by RunKC

The trust between employee and employer is as low as it has ever been from what I’ve seen.

People worked hard before because there was an incentive. Pensions, retirement benefits by a certain age and stability.

Millenials have seen boomers get screwed time and time again. I’ve seen people that were 1 year from being eligible for retirement health benefits for life and the company lays them off. A ton of companies don’t offer pensions anymore.

I left my last job in part because they stopped offering retirement benefits. It was age+years of service=75 to become eligible and they stopped offering it for anyone after 2023.

Companies are outsourcing jobs and laying off people in droves and want underpaid, controlled workers with shitty jobs and bad health insurance.

I’m glad this generation is starting to stand up to that. It’s bullshit

This is well said.

[|Zach|]

I am pretty lucky to have a pension. Been in a new role in the past year and work life balance is what I make of it but it is a 24\7 operation so it can be tough to disconnect at times.

Pay is just "ok" but freedom and benefits are really good. Someone would have to back up the brinks truck to pull me away from this. I still think a public safety adjacent tech company might be an option but I have so many things going for me in my current spot and could retire here pretty happy.

There is a lot of fulfillment associated with a job well done in my field so times where you have to put in the extra hours it is usually tied to do something worth it and extra money is nice.

[KCUnited]

At the beginning of the year I was reorganized to a 2 person team with my teammate being from Japan originally. Its been eye opening to see how loyal, committed and eager she is for the company, to the point they try and take advantage

It was recently suggested that she run her daily project while traveling back to Japan to see her aging mom and I was compelled to step in and say that's not happening and we'll find an alt solution

I'm trying to show her the American way of work hard, take pride in what you do, but don't trust these people nor take their shit

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

Work smarter, not harder.

Hearing this reminds me of a speaker who was at a team building seminar sponsored by the company I worked for....

He put the above quote on the board and asked how many people believed in that saying. Almost everyone raised their hands....

He said....in today's work environment too many of the people who say that are not your best workers because most of them are really looking for a way to achieve more without putting in any real effort.

He said the real way to state this is...."how can I work smarter but still put in the effort that is necessary to achieve my goals and the company goals".

[Fish]

Employers no longer offering pensions. Employers doing everything they can to not pay employees health insurance. Stagnant wages for decades, despite record profits and CEO pay skyrocketing. The largest corporations like Walmart have the most employees receiving welfare benefits. While bullying themselves into a monopoly status, regardless of laws against it. Now there are no more small town department stores at all.

We allowed corporations to acquire too much power in the name of capitalism. They've done nothing but throw their workers into the grinder. And we're supposed to be shocked that employees don't prioritize their work above the rest of their shitty life?

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

The worst thing I ever did was load my work email onto my cell phone...

I stopped doing that the day my company stopped paying for a portion of my cell phone bill...

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Thinking about this a little more, I also wonder if there's an impact from fewer people having kids (or at least that's my situation). When you don't have a family to provide for, you can get by with a little less.

Or you just budget better and don't go crazy spending on things that don't give long term enjoyment.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I don't know how married people with kids who work 50 hours a week have any me time at all. How do they have time for ANY hobby? It is mind boggling to me.

The amount of time I spend on my hobbies is astronomical. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

My joy came from spending time with my kids when I got home from work...even when I worked OT.

I made my kids a priority.....because it also provided the greatest joy in my life.

It's that simple......I don't get why people see kids as a burden.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Bl00dyBizkitz

I feel this, too. Unless you love your job to death, how does anyone live a fulfilling life working that much at a job they hate? Providing for your family is one thing, but if thats the only thing, you're effectively throwing yourself into a human meat grinder. In fact, this generation probably saw their parents doing exactly that and the consequences of it, and vowed NEVER to live their life like that.

Yeah, my parents worked and I know it’s what they had to do but my mom worked second shift at factories for a good portion of my childhood. 12 hour days from 12:00-12:00 six days per week. She missed a lot of time with us and I would never want that cycle repeated in my life with my children. I’ll avoid that lifestyle at any cost.

Originally Posted by luv

"In fact, work-life balance and better overall wellbeing now rank among the most important considerations when choosing a new job."

I wonder if the people saying that have mortgages or children. For me, it's still wage and benefits package. Of course, I'm considered an older worker now.

Regarding technology, something I do love is that I now have the opportunity to work from home when my kid is sick or the roads are bad.

It also helps to have an awesome boss who allows me to occasionally alter my schedule (come in early, work through lunch, etc) whenever my kid or I have some sporting thing early in the evening that I need to leave a little early to make.

God bless those bosses who don’t trip about shit like that.

[mr. tegu]

In a lot of places working harder or longer doesn’t produce an intrinsic gratification or impact as so much of that hard work, especially in office settings, seems like pointless busy work that only satisfies keeping your managers from bothering you.

People work harder when they feel personally satisfied, connected, or valued. Being a tiny little cog pressing buttons on a computer just doesn’t do that so things like work life balance become more motivating as they seek satisfaction from how they use their time.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by RunKC

The trust between employee and employer is as low as it has ever been from what I’ve seen.

People worked hard before because there was an incentive. Pensions, retirement benefits by a certain age and stability.

Millenials have seen boomers get screwed time and time again. I’ve seen people that were 1 year from being eligible for retirement health benefits for life and the company lays them off. A ton of companies don’t offer pensions anymore.

I left my last job in part because they stopped offering retirement benefits. It was age+years of service=75 to become eligible and they stopped offering it for anyone after 2023.

Companies are outsourcing jobs and laying off people in droves and want underpaid, controlled workers with shitty jobs and bad health insurance.

I’m glad this generation is starting to stand up to that. It’s bullshit

The company I worked for before I retired last year didn't offer retirement health benefits, but I wasn't there looking for that. I planned to handle my own needs because I knew I was the person I could trust most.

Interestingly enough, there were some benefits I was able to take up on my own that were key to me....(legal insurance, hospitalization benefits, etc ) that were reasonable in cost and that I budgeted for.

My employer hired me when I was 60 years old.....I finished my career 8 years later with the same company, so not everyone gets canned 1 year short of retirement or FRA.

I'm a Boomer and in no way do I feel that I was screwed by my company. But, I have told my Millenial daughter that how I lived my life and planned my retirement would be different that she should and that her career would see a different path than mine.

I am retired and live comfortable...nothing wild or extreme, just a nice casual life that I planned for.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Fish

Employers no longer offering pensions. Employers doing everything they can to not pay employees health insurance. Stagnant wages for decades, despite record profits and CEO pay skyrocketing. The largest corporations like Walmart have the most employees receiving welfare benefits. While bullying themselves into a monopoly status, regardless of laws against it. Now there are no more small town department stores at all.

We allowed corporations to acquire too much power in the name of capitalism. They've done nothing but throw their workers into the grinder. And we're supposed to be shocked that employees don't prioritize their work above the rest of their shitty life?

Disappearing pension opportunities started long ago.....too many people see this as a recent trend but it isn't.

Employers see health insurance costs skyrocket and some of that is due to fraudulent claims, but the real reason is the greed of the insurance companies.

Funny how people forget the days of when the local mills/companies pretty much owned the towns they were located in. They had the mill houses for rent and the company store where you went to buy all your goods. Right now we are just reliving this era's version of that.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

I am pretty lucky to have a pension. Been in a new role in the past year and work life balance is what I make of it but it is a 24\7 operation so it can be tough to disconnect at times.

Pay is just "ok" but freedom and benefits are really good. Someone would have to back up the brinks truck to pull me away from this. I still think a public safety adjacent tech company might be an option but I have so many things going for me in my current spot and could retire here pretty happy.

There is a lot of fulfillment associated with a job well done in my field so times where you have to put in the extra hours it is usually tied to do something worth it and extra money is nice.

Baristas get pensions now?