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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 originate in appears to be from ancient Mesopotamia, from Sumerian-Babylonian culture that likely developed about possibly as early as 5000 -4000 years agoand 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 them to divide 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. While what was <ref>For more on the Sumerian-Babylonian concept origins and conventions of week eventually influenced the Hebrew calendar and later the Western calendar through adoption in the Classical world, the idea of a workweek had not developed fully in the ancient world. Among the closest, however, was the Jewish use of the weekly calendar, where there would be six days of work and one Sabbath day based on the interpretation that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This did influence what became the Christian week, where the Sabbath was effectively Sunday. In the Medieval period in Europesee: Stern, people were expected to work throughout the week and on Sunday worship in their local perishS. There were other calendars and forms of workweeks(2012). For instance<i>Calendars in antiquity: empires, the Romans used a system where eight days of work were expected then there was one day off. This was also true for schoolchildren who were given an eight day off. Oftenstates, the eight day would be a market day where families and individuals would have time to shop. During the French Revolution, a ten day schedule for work was expected before a day off was given, as a secular system began, for the first time, to be imposed for time off rather than using the Christian calendarsocieties</i>. [[FileOxford; New York:Sack of jerusalemOxford University Press.JPG|thumb|Figure 1. The Hebrew calendar and concept of seven day week was heavily influenced by the Babylonian calendar. ]] ==Industrial Revolution Influence==</ref>
In While what was the Sumerian-Babylonian concept of week or seven day divisions eventually influenced the late 19th century, factory workers Hebrew calendar and others later the Western calendar through adoption in the United Kingdom were using their Sunday'sClassical world, as their one day off, to enjoy at local pubs or gamble. This often meant that Monday became the idea of a day when many workers simply did workweek had not show up or were very late to workdeveloped fully in the ancient world. Business owners responded by giving their workers half Among the closest, however, was the Jewish use of the weekly calendar, where there would be six days of Saturday off as a way to compensate for work and one Sabbath day based on the fact interpretation that they wanted their workers to come to work God created the world in six days and rested on Mondaythe seventh. Effectively, they gave them an extra night to enjoy in exchange for coming to The Sabbath meant any day or holy day where work back on time on Mondaywould cease. SoonThis, writing around the late 1870s and laterhowever, began to refer to this period as did influence what became the Christian week-end or , where the period that Sabbath was effectively Sunday. In the end of Medieval period in Europe, people were expected to work throughout the week when workers would have Saturday night and on Sunday offworship in their local perish. In fact, <ref>For more on the Sabbath and the first known instance origins of the week-end was used in concept of the magazine workweek, see: Kleinman, S. (Ed.). (2009). <i>Notes and QueriesThe culture of efficiency: technology in everyday life</i> in an article published in 1879.New York: Peter Lang, pg. 93.</ref>
A key moment in There were other calendars and forms of workweeks. For instance, the modern workweek came in 1908, when Romans used a mill in New York became the first business to give workers Saturday and Sunday system where eight days of work were expected then there was one day off, that is the first modern weekend and workweek. This occurred because was also true for schoolchildren who were given an eight day off. Often, the factory had eight day would be a substantial number of Jewish market day where families and Christian workersindividuals would have time to shop. Jewish workers celebrated During the Sabbath from Friday night to SaturdayFrench Revolution, while Christians wanted Sunday a ten day schedule for work was expected before a day off. What was given, as a secular system began as an incentive , for the first time, to be imposed for time off rather than using the Jewish workers soon became established for all workers in Christian calendar.<ref>For more on ancient work weeks, see: Zerubavel, E. (1989). <i>The seven day circle: the history and meaning of the factoryweek</i>. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. </ref>
Nevertheless====Industrial Revolution Influence====In the late 19th century, despite the use of the five day workweek factory workers and two day weekend, this concept did not catch on others in the rest of the United States Kingdom were using their Sunday's, as their one day off, to enjoy at this pointlocal pubs or gamble. In 1926, Henry Ford began to implement This often meant that Monday became a five day workweek when many workers simply did not show up to work or were very late to work. Business owners responded by closing his factories on giving their workers half of Saturday and Sunday. His reform was popular off as he did not reduce pay but cut one day off from a way to compensate for the fact that they wanted their workers to come to workon Monday. Major clothing and textile factories also began Effectively, they gave them an extra night to enjoy in exchange for coming to follow this example soon afterwork back on time on Monday. Some factories and workplaces did institute a five day workweekSoon, but it only became routine during writing around the Great Depression. For companies that were struggling financially during this timelate 1870s and later, one remedy began to diminish costs was refer to shorten this period as the week-end or the workweek, which period that was often six days, to five daysthe end of the week when workers would have Saturday night and Sunday off. In fact, it was during the Great Depression that businesses switched to a 40 hour workweek, whereas first known instance of the use of the standard before then term 'weekend' or 'week-end' was close to 49 hoursin the magazine <i>Notes and Queries</i> in an article published in 1879. This helped many businesses stay viable during very difficult economic periods for <re>For more on the US and emerging concept of the worldweekend, see: https://www.etymonline.com/word/weekend </ref>[[File:Soviet calendar 1929-30 B&W. By 1940, what solidified jpg|thumb|Figure 2. A Soviet calendar from 1929-1930 indicating rest days in black. ]]A key moment in the modern weekend workweek came in 1908, when a mill in New York became the United States was the Fair Labor Standards Actfirst business to give workers all of Saturdays and Sundays off, that made is the 40 hour first modern weekend and workweek . This occurred because the normfactory had a substantial number of Jewish and Christian workers. In effectJewish workers celebrated the Sabbath from Friday night to Saturday, this meant that two days while Christians wanted Sunday off were needed and Saturday and Sunday were . What began as an incentive to the most convenient Jewish workers soon became established for this given their cultural background and norms already practiced all workers in parts of the countryfactory. As companies had already began to widely implement a 40 hour <ref>For more on the 1908 five day workweek, Congress helped make the modern workweek to be standard even after the Great Depression when corporate profits returned to normal levelssee: Negrey, C. (2012).<i> Work time: conflict, control and change</i>. Cambridge, UK ; Malden, MA: Polity Press.</ref>
==Recent Developments==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>
As more countries have begun to align to a single, unified system, the workweek is now beginning to look similar in many regions. 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. Many Islamic countries use Friday and Saturday as their weekend rather, while Sunday is often a workday week. However, some Islamic countries with Christian minorities give Christians this day off or parts of the day off. International organizations have also supported the 40 hour workweek and bodies such as 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.
More modern recommendations ====Recent Developments====As more countries have even been developed begun to address problems such as carbon emissionsalign to a single, pollutionunified system, inequalitythe workweek is now beginning to look similar in many regions. Much of Asia, for instance, uses Saturday and Sunday as their weekend and free time available for childcarethe workweek as the rest of the days. The New Economics FoundationIslamic countries often are dissimilar than Western states, for instanceas their holy day is Friday. Many Islamic countries use Friday and Saturday as their weekend, has called for while Sunday is often a 21 workday week. However, some Islamic countries with Christian minorities give Christians this day off or parts of the day off. International organizations have also supported the 40 hour workweekand bodies such as the International Labour Organization have stated that workers should not work more than 48 hours. While technology could make this possibleThe 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 workweek became more standardized in countries, there is little acceptance particularly due to the effects of this at management globalization, see: Lee, S., Eyraud, F., & International Labour Office (Eds.). (2008). <i>Globalization, flexibilization and working conditions in Asia and government levelsthe Pacific</i>. Geneva, Switzerland : Oxford: International Labour Office ; In association with Chandos.</ref>
==Summary==More modern recommendations have even been developed to address problems such as carbon emissions, pollution, inequality, and free time available for childcare. The New Economics Foundation, for instance, has called for a 21 hour workweek. While technology could make this possible, there is little acceptance of this at management and government levels. In Europe, notably France, the workweek has been officially reduced to 35 hours as the standard week.<ref>For more on recent events around the concept of the workweek, see: Giele, J. Z., & Holst, E. (Eds.). (2003). <i>Changing life patterns in Western industrial societies</i>. Amsterdam ; London: JAI.</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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