As Victoria and Tasmania mark Labour Day today, it’s worth reflecting on whether we’ve achieved the work-life balance the eight-hour day was supposed to provide. I suspect the answer for many people is no.
When Australia introduced the eight-hour working day, it became one of the world’s most progressive labour regimes. It’s what makes Labour Day one of the most significant public holidays for the nation’s 12 million-plus workers. The idea was that we’d have eight hours of work, eight hours of relaxation and eight hours of sleep each day. It marked the first attempt to introduce work-life balance to our lives, giving people time for work, play, family, and community. But how many of us can say we’ve got that balance in our lives? Not many, I think. Too many people feel overworked, stressed, anxious, and taken for granted. Labour Day should be a wake-up call for business leaders to look at how they treat their people.
The quest for work-life balance
The 40-hour, five-day working week came into force for all Australians in 1948. Before then, it wasn’t uncommon for workers to put in 14-hour days, with no sick leave or holiday pay and little job security. The push for change started in the 1850s, with a campaign for an eight-hour day. Rallies and protests were held in Sydney and Melbourne to revolutionise the rights of workers. On 21 April 1856, stonemasons marched through Melbourne to Parliament House where, along with other building workers, they demanded more reasonable hours and more rights for workers. And they got results. The government granted employees on public works an eight-hour working day, with no reduction in wages. A celebratory march on 12 May 1856, and then held annually, was recognised as a paid public holiday in 1879. Labour Day is now celebrated on different dates across Australia’s states and territories, with Victoria and Tasmania observing it on the second Monday in March.
My challenge to leaders
Whether you subscribe to an eight-hour day, Elon Musk’s 100-hour week or Tim Ferriss’ four-hour work week, Labour Day is an opportunity for business leaders to take stock. It’s time to ask honest questions about the way we treat our people and the contribution we’re making to their personal well-being. The Great Resignation suggests people do not feel properly supported in their workplace. And that means we’re not living up to the promise of the balanced life that this historic labour reform was supposed to deliver.