e-3121 (Employment and labour)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• The average worker is only productive for 2 hours and 58 minutes of an 8 hour work day;
• Henry Ford changed the work week from 48 to 40 hours to increase productivity (with success);
• We've been working 40 hour work weeks since 1914, before advanced computers, the Internet, and programs that have increased our productivity significantly;
• We are more efficient and productive than we were over 100 years ago;
• We've changed our work week before, we can do it again;
• Workers who have a better work-life balance are more efficient and productive;
• Companies who have implemented 4-day work weeks have seen productivity boosts;
• Microsoft Japan saw a 40% productivity increase by reducing the work week by one day;
• When we can be more efficient and productive in less time, there's no need for us to be at work instead of spending more family time;
• Overtime pay would instead be at at 34 hours instead of 44;
• This would increase productivity, create a better work-life balance for Canadians, and improve the mental health crisis that the pandemic has worsened for many Canadians; and
• We need this change to recover from this pandemic to boost our economy.