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[[File:Sack of jerusalem.JPG|thumb|Figure 1. The Hebrew calendar and concept of seven day week was heavily influenced by the Babylonian calendar. ]]
The modern workweek, where there are five days of work and a two-day weekend, developed in the early 20th century as a response to religious observance and worker needs as the Industrial Revolution had begun to affect all aspects of life. Although the origins of the week, and even concepts of a weekend, are very old, only over the last 100 years has there been a formal, set concept of a workweek and weekend in many countries.
====Early Origins====The origin of the seven day week appears to be from ancient Mesopotamia, from Sumerian-Babylonian culture that likely developed possibly as early as 5000-4000 years ago and divided days into segments of seven. The Babylonians saw that seven was a type of 'divine' number, with seven major planets and group of seven gods signifying aspects of the relevance for the number seven (Figure 1). Festival days for gods often lasted seven days. This concept led to dividing time in weeks with 7 being the key division in a week. The names of the week were named after gods and this is also true in our modern system, although different gods are used. Thursday, for example, was meant to be Thor's Day, that is the day of Thor in the Anglo-Saxon language.<ref>For more on the origins and conventions of the Western calendar days and week, see: Stern, S. (2012). <i>Calendars in antiquity: empires, states, and societies</i>. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. </ref>
The origin of While what was the 7Sumerian-Babylonian concept of week or seven day week originate divisions eventually influenced the Hebrew calendar and later the Western calendar through adoption in ancient Mesopotamiathe Classical world, from Sumerian-Babylonian culture that likely the idea of a workweek had not developed about 5000 years agofully in the ancient world. The Babylonians saw that 7 Among the closest, however, was a type the Jewish use of 'divine' numberthe weekly calendar, with seven major planets where there would be six days of work and group of seven gods signifying aspects of one Sabbath day based on the interpretation that God created the relevance for world in six days and rested on the number 7seventh. The Sabbath meant any day or holy day where work would cease. This concept led them to divide time in weeks with 7 being , however, did influence what became the key division in a Christian week, where the Sabbath was effectively Sunday. The names of In the Medieval period in Europe, people were expected to work throughout the week were named after gods and this is also true on Sunday worship in our modern systemtheir local perish. Thursday<ref>For more on the Sabbath and the origins of the concept of the workweek, for examplesee: Kleinman, was meant to be Thor's Day, that is the day S. (Ed.). (2009). <i>The culture of Thor efficiency: technology in the Anglo-Saxon languageeveryday life</i>. New York: Peter Lang, pg. 93.</ref>
While what was the Sumerian-Babylonian concept of week eventually influenced the Hebrew calendar There were other calendars and later the Western calendar through adoption in the Classical world, the idea forms of a workweek had not developed fully in the ancient worldworkweeks. Among the closestFor instance, however, was the Jewish use of the weekly calendar, Romans used a system where there would be six eight days of work and were expected then there was one Sabbath day based on off. This was also true for schoolchildren who were given an eight day off. Often, the interpretation that God created the world in six days eight day would be a market day where families and rested on the seventhindividuals would have time to shop. This did influence what became During the Christian weekFrench Revolution, where the Sabbath a ten day schedule for work was expected before a day off was effectively Sunday. In given, as a secular system began, for the Medieval period in Europefirst time, people were expected to be imposed for time off rather than using the Christian calendar.<ref>For more on ancient work throughout weeks, see: Zerubavel, E. (1989). <i>The seven day circle: the history and meaning of the week and on Sunday worship in their local perish</i>. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.</ref>
There were other calendars ====Industrial Revolution Influence====In the late 19th century, factory workers and forms of workweeks. For instance, others in the Romans used a system where eight days of work United Kingdom were expected then there was using their Sunday's, as their one day off, to enjoy at local pubs or gamble. This was also true often meant that Monday became a day when many workers simply did not show up to work or were very late to work. Business owners responded by giving their workers half of Saturday off as a way to compensate for schoolchildren who were given the fact that they wanted their workers to come to work on Monday. Effectively, they gave them an eight day offextra night to enjoy in exchange for coming to work back on time on Monday. OftenSoon, writing around the eight day would be a market day where families late 1870s and individuals later, began to refer to this period as the week-end or the period that was the end of the week when workers would have time to shopSaturday night and Sunday off. In fact, the first known instance of the use of the term 'weekend' or 'week-end' was in the magazine <i>Notes and Queries</i> in an article published in 1879.<re>For more on the emerging concept of the weekend, see: https://www.etymonline.com/word/weekend </ref>[[File:Soviet calendar 1929-30 B&W.jpg|thumb|Figure 2. A Soviet calendar from 1929-1930 indicating rest days in black. During ]]A key moment in the French Revolutionmodern workweek came in 1908, when a ten day schedule for work was expected before a day mill in New York became the first business to give workers all of Saturdays and Sundays off was given, as that is the first modern weekend and workweek. This occurred because the factory had a secular system substantial number of Jewish and Christian workers. Jewish workers celebrated the Sabbath from Friday night to Saturday, while Christians wanted Sunday off. What began, as an incentive to the Jewish workers soon became established for all workers in the factory.<ref>For more on the first 1908 five day workweek, see: Negrey, C. (2012).<i> Work time: conflict, control and change</i>. Cambridge, UK ; Malden, to be imposed for time off rather than using the Christian calendarMA: Polity Press.</ref>
==Industrial Revolution Influence==Nevertheless, despite the use of the five day workweek and two day weekend, this concept did not catch on in the rest of the United States at this point. In 1926, Henry Ford began to implement a five day workweek by closing his factories on Saturday and Sunday. His reform was popular as he did not reduce pay but cut one day off from work. Major clothing and textile factories also began to follow this example soon after. Some factories and workplaces did institute a five day workweek, but it only became routine during the Great Depression. For companies that were struggling financially during this time, one remedy to diminish costs was to shorten the workweek, which was often six days, to five days. In fact, it was during the Great Depression that businesses switched to a 40 hour workweek, whereas the standard before then was close to 49 hours. This helped many businesses stay viable during a very difficult economic period for the US and the world. By 1940, what solidified the modern weekend in the United States was the Fair Labor Standards Act, that made the 40 hour workweek the norm. In effect, this meant that two days off were needed and Saturday and Sunday were the most convenient for this given their cultural background and norms already practiced in parts of the country. As companies had already began to widely implement a 40 hour workweek, Congress helped make the modern workweek to be standard even after the Great Depression when corporate profits returned to normal levels. Other countries, including the Soviet Union, did not adopt the concept of 40 hour work week, although after World War II it increasingly became common in Western countries as economies began to align (Figure 2).<ref>For more on how the 40 hour workweek and two day weekend became national fixtures, see: Ehrenreich, J. (2014).<i> The altruistic imagination: a history of social work and social policy in the United States</i>. Cornell University Press.</ref>
In the late 19th century, factory workers and others in the United Kingdom were using their Sunday's, as their one day off, to enjoy at local pubs or gamble. This often meant that Monday became a day when many workers simply did not show up or were very late to work. Business owners responded by giving their workers half of Saturday off as a way to compensate for the fact that they wanted their workers to come to work on Monday. Effectively, they gave them an extra night to enjoy in exchange for coming to work back on time on Monday. Soon, writing around the late 1870s and later, began to refer to this period as the week-end or the period that was the end of the week when workers would have Saturday night and Sunday off. In fact, the first known instance of the week-end was used in the magazine <i>Notes and Queries</i> in an article published in 1879.
A key moment in ====Recent Developments====As more countries have begun to align to a single, unified system, the modern workweek came is now beginning to look similar in 1908many regions. Much of Asia, when a mill in New York became the first business to give workers for instance, uses Saturday and Sunday off, that is the first modern as their weekend and the workweek. This occurred because as the factory had a substantial number rest of Jewish and Christian workersthe days. Islamic countries often are dissimilar than Western states, as their holy day is Friday. Jewish workers celebrated the Sabbath from Many Islamic countries use Friday night to and Saturdayas their weekend, while Sunday is often a workday week. However, some Islamic countries with Christian minorities give Christians wanted Sunday this day off or parts of the day off. What began International organizations have also supported the 40 hour workweek and bodies such as an incentive the International Labour Organization have stated that workers should not work more than 48 hours. The relatively equal amount of work time most countries have has helped to create more standardized and equal workweeks in many countries.<ref>For more on how the Jewish workers soon workweek became established for all workers more standardized in countries, particularly due to the effects of globalization, see: Lee, S., Eyraud, F., & International Labour Office (Eds.). (2008). <i>Globalization, flexibilization and working conditions in Asia and the factoryPacific</i>. Geneva, Switzerland : Oxford: International Labour Office ; In association with Chandos. </ref>
NeverthelessMore modern recommendations have even been developed to address problems such as carbon emissions, pollution, inequality, despite the use of the five day workweek and two day weekendfree time available for childcare. The New Economics Foundation, this concept did not catch on in the rest of the United States at this point. In 1926for instance, Henry Ford began to implement has called for a five day 21 hour workweek by closing his factories on Saturday and Sunday. His reform was popular as he did not reduce pay but cut one day off from work. Major clothing and textile factories also began to follow While technology could make this example soon after. Some factories and workplaces did institute a five day workweekpossible, but it only became routine during the Great Depression. For companies that were struggling financially during there is little acceptance of this time, one remedy to diminish costs was to shorten the workweek, which was often six days, to five daysat management and government levels. In factEurope, notably France, it was during the Great Depression that businesses switched to a 40 hour workweek, whereas the standard before then was close has been officially reduced to 49 35 hours. This helped many businesses stay viable during very difficult economic periods for as the US and the worldstandard week. By 1940, what solidified <ref>For more on recent events around the modern weekend in concept of the United States was the Fair Labor Standards Actworkweek, that made the 40 hour workweek the norm. In effectsee: Giele, this meant that two days off were needed and Saturday and Sunday were the most convenient for this given their cultural background and norms already practiced in parts of the countryJ. As companies had already began to widely implement a 40 hour workweek, Congress helped make the modern workweek to be standard even after the Great Depression when corporate profits returned to normal levelsZ. ==Recent Developments== As more countries have begun to align to a single, unified system& Holst, the workweek is now beginning to look similar in many regionsE. (Eds. Much of Asia, for instance, uses Saturday and Sunday as their weekend and workweek as the rest of the days). Islamic countries often still vary, as their holy day is Friday(2003). Many Islamic countries use Friday and Saturday as their weekend rather, while Sunday is often a workday week<i>Changing life patterns in Western industrial societies</i>. However, some Islamic countries with Christian minorities give Christians this day off or parts of the day offAmsterdam ; London: JAI. ==Summary==</ref>
====Summary====
The modern workweek is a relatively recent development. In effect, both the Industrial Revolution and Globalization have helped it to become relatively standard to have 40 hour weeks with five day workdays and two day weekend. While the concept of a workweek do go back to very ancient periods, there often was no standard as to when workers would have time off and often it varied greatly from society to society.
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