The history of the 9 to 5 is important to understanding the migration to remote work. So many people are stuck in “we’ve always done it that way” and they don’t always know the history behind it. The 9 to 5 was around for almost 200 years before Dolly Parton decided to sing about it. In its day it was a welcome alternative to the 12-14 hour work days that many workers experienced.
The Creation of the 9 to 5
In 1817, Robert Owen (1771-1858), launched an experiment in which workers at his cotton mill in New Lanark, Scotland worked eight-hour days. He modeled it after he visited the small town of Luneville, France. He was impressed by the way that the town’s residents lived and worked together.
The results were impressive: workers were more productive, less absenteeism and accidents decreased, and morale increased. Inspired by these results, Owen began campaigning for the adoption of the eight-hour work day. He formulated the 8-hour work day and coined the slogan: “ Eight hours labor, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest”. While one of the most influential thinkers of his time, the idea didn’t catch on right away. It needed an event to force the issue.
The Catalyst for Change
Before the Crimean War (1853-1856), most workers in England toiled away for long hours with little rest, often 10-12 hours a day. Children as young as five or six years old were sent to work in factories. Owen’s practices had been around for 30 years but they didn’t catch on because there wasn’t a catalyst. But the war had a profound effect on the working class. Thousands of men were conscripted to fight, leaving behind families and businesses. This created a labor shortage, which led to an increase in wages. And when the war ended, many soldiers returned home with new ideas about work and life.
We have seen a similar awakening among workers during the past two years. This time a pandemic and the great resignation are behind the labor shortage and changes in work practices. This is just the natural evolution of work from the industrial economy to the knowledge economy.
Eventually, America slowly followed suit, and trade unions fought for decades to get down to their eight hours a day. Henry Ford began implementing an eight-hour work day for his employees due to not seeing more productivity with more than eight hours a day. He ended up doubling his profits in two years and his profile rose, leaving other industrialists to copy him. Robert Owen paved the way for labor unions in the United States to push and win the adoption of the eight-hour standard work day in different industries.
The Knowledge Economy
What once was a blessing 300 years ago, has become a structure that no longer meets the needs of workers or businesses. Many leaders just haven’t figured it out yet. 10 generations of embedded structure are hard to break away from without a catalyst. Even though the internet has been with us for over 30 years, the idea of letting go of the industrial economy practices didn’t start catching on until most of us were forced to work from home. Even still, many leaders think it’s a temporary accommodation.
All you need to do is look at history to see the wheels of change turning. The knowledge economy is here, and like the industrial economy before it, work is being redefined.
