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Pass the stimulus - then help shorten the work week
New York Daily News
By Dean Baker
Wednesday, January 28th 2009, 4:00 AM
As job losses hemorrhage, the American economy is in desperate need of a stimulus. It is becoming increasingly clear that Congress must work rapidly to approve some version of President Obama's plan.
Then, Obama and the Congress should very quickly turn to taking a second, temporary step to create more jobs: creating incentives for companies to reduce the workweek and work year for many Americans.
The idea is not as radical as it sounds - and could prove very productive indeed for the American worker....
"an employer who currently provides no paid vacation might offer all workers three weeks a year of paid vacation, approximately a 6% reduction in work time. Alternatively, employers could cut the standard workweek, say from 40 hours to 36 hours, a 10% reduction in work hours. Or they could offer paid sick leave or paid parental leave..."
ReplyDeleteIn Australia that would be getting back to where we were before the Howard Government came to power in 1996.