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

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

I don’t think it’s the fault of generations at all. Prices for starter homes from 50 years ago would always go up, especially those that remain in good areas. Less supply in an area means higher cost. So think a lot is just natural. But it’s exacerbated by conglomerates buying up properties and even average people renting out properties, whether it’s ones they inherited or their own that they purchase for renting out. Now, why smaller single family homes aren’t built in more desirable areas I assume just comes down to profits, but I’m sure there are other factors. I think most DoorDash and new iPhone people are probably not in the market at all.

The generation that benefitted from those starter homes shut the door behind them. Practically made being against any new housing being built anywhere a lifestyle. City Council meetings across the country month after month year after year the only thing people are truly passionate about is making it impossible for others to have a realistic shot at housing.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

Only semi related but I find it interesting that the movie Fight Club came out in 1999 and its main premise was being a normal guy with a comfortable place to live and some nice things to surround yourself with was very normal so much that it was seen as unfulfilling and he dives into the madness that is the rest of the movie.

Fast forward 25 years and this crop of youngers wake up dreaming of that set of circumstances that was seen as boring and lifeless.

That's the thing about opportunity, you actually have to take advantage of it when it presents itself

I wish I'd bought more properties at sub 3% like the evil corporations did

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Yes, that is the situation I was trying to describe. It is horrible situation and a sad one. Furthermore, builders quit building the low cost homes in favor of the higher profit higher end homes.

I might clarify though, even 40-50 years ago, the starter homes were mostly just older lower end homes that I ran into. Didn't see any new ones in our price range back then.

Something truly needs to be done.

Starter homes are seven percent of new homes being built.

Had a buddy supervise the building of a new subdivision in Belton. Nice homes.

They aren't for sale, just rentals.

Rent is too high.

Greed rules the day.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Bl00dyBizkitz

As someone loosely in IT, you literally need a smartphone to work at any decent office job. They all require MFA for cybersecurity insurance and most IT firms exclusively use an MFA app on your smartphone.

They are absolutely required.

Most IT and IT security companies will assign you a phone and computer. They don't want people's personal devices having access to sensitive information.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Eh, I get the sentiment. That seems pretty unusual, though. If someone has to be on their phone constantly, then sure, work should pay for it. I don't want to have a separate device just for basic emails, Slacks, and 2FA, though.

Depending on how you set it up, you can possibly just disable work apps after hours if that's the part you don't want.

BYOD is a nightmare. Unless you have a really large but relatively non-technical workforce, BYOD with some kind of MDM is sufficient. It's much easier if you have a technical workforce to just issue company-owned and managed phones. Keeping stuff partitioned isn't super easy, or cheap.

[Bl00dyBizkitz]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Most IT and IT security companies will assign you a phone and computer. They don't want people's personal devices having access to sensitive information.

I suppose you could get a company phone or a FOB.

I guess I was pushing against the iPhone/Door Dash rhetoric just a bit. Door Dash, GrubHub, UberEats, and any equivalent is a scam and I think you're a fool to use it frequently, but a smart phone has great features and is relatively inexpensive. I dont think you'd be crippling yourself financially by getting one.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by stevieray

Starter homes are seven percent of new homes being built.

Had a buddy supervise the building of a new subdivision in Belton. Nice homes.

They aren't for sale, just rentals.

Rent is too high.

Greed rules the day.

Sad deal, my two grandsons are in this tough situation.

[notorious]

Most peoples' success is exactly what they've earned.

[threebag]

I averaged around 1800 hours of overtime a year. With an 11 for 1 exchange I always had shit tons of vacation time.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

The generation that benefitted from those starter homes shut the door behind them. Practically made being against any new housing being built anywhere a lifestyle. City Council meetings across the country month after month year after year the only thing people are truly passionate about is making it impossible for others to have a realistic shot at housing.

Plenty of cheap homes anywhere in rural BFE America.

All people gotta do is move.

Bam. Affordable housing just like that.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Bl00dyBizkitz

I suppose you could get a company phone or a FOB.

I guess I was pushing against the iPhone/Door Dash rhetoric just a bit. Door Dash, GrubHub, UberEats, and any equivalent is a scam and I think you're a fool to use it frequently, but a smart phone has great features and is relatively inexpensive. I dont think you'd be crippling yourself financially by getting one.

It isn't the phone so much as it's the contract that comes with it. To get the absolute latest phones, you have to go with a bigger provider. The discount mobile providers generally give out older phones, which is how they keep costs down.

[kccrow]

Working hard for many hours over years in the hope of a raise one day is old-school mentality and has no real basis in reality anymore. It's about getting paid for a skill set. If you won't, people will move on to someone who will. And someone will pay.

There is no dedication to an employer unless you pay well and offer some significant benefits on top of that, which endears that particular employee. Most resumes will have someone switching jobs every 2-3 years. If you expect to hire someone in today's age with longevity and dedication, you're behind the times by a significant margin.

Employers really have only themselves to blame. Decades of empty promises, stagnant wages, and expecting people to put work over life created it.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Working hard for many hours over years in the hope of a raise one day is old-school mentality and has no real basis in reality anymore. It's about getting paid for a skill set. If you won't, people will move on to someone who will. And someone will pay.

There is no dedication to an employer unless you pay well and offer some significant benefits on top of that, which endears that particular employee. Most resumes will have someone switching jobs every 2-3 years. If you expect to hire someone in today's age with longevity and dedication, you're behind the times by a significant margin.

Employers really have only themselves to blame. Decades of empty promises, stagnant wages, and expecting people to put work over life created it.

I am an owner of a small business, and I can guarantee that the motivated and productive get raises and often.

Big business are terrible when it comes to this.

[kccrow]

On home prices, it's only getting worse. 15 years ago, the company I work at was buying 3 and 4 bedroom homes for around $200,000. Now, you won't touch one under $350,000 in the same area. Take that to a major metropolitan area, and it would be 4x that, easily.

I still do side work for a modular and manufactured home seller/setter. A single-wide 16x80 manufactured was around $70k when I worked with them 10 years ago. That same home now sells for $130k. That's the bottom of the barrel for buying a "new home" really. You can't put in a modular 3 bed for less than about $250k and that's not counting site prep, well/septic or sewer/water connection. That's just rural rates.

Housing is ****ing ugly for current generations. Multi-generational homes are damn near a must anymore.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by notorious

I am an owner of a small business, and I can guarantee that the motivated and productive get raises and often.

Big business are terrible when it comes to this.

It's about the only way to retain employees. If you don't reasonably reward the work they will move on quicker than shit.