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How did automation contribute to shorter factory workweeks?
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At the top of the machine is a stack of punched cards that would be fed into the loom to control the weaving pattern. This method of automatically issuing machine instructions was employed by computers well into the 20th century.
Automation has played a significant role in the reduction of factory workweeks by driving substantial gains in productivity and efficiency. As technological progress made each hour of labor more productive, employers faced less resistance to the implementation of shorter working hours.12
The contribution of automation to shorter workweeks includes:
- Increased Productivity: By boosting output per man-hour, automation allowed companies to maintain or increase production levels while reducing the total time required from the workforce.32
- Operational Efficiency: Employers adopted shorter workweeks as a strategy to improve overall factory efficiency and reduce absenteeism.4
- Economic Justification: As automation and mechanization advanced, the resulting efficiencies provided the economic foundation to support a transition from the long, grueling hours of the early industrial era to the standard 40-hour workweek.24
While automation facilitated these shifts, the actual reduction in hours was also heavily influenced by the advocacy of labor unions, legislative actions like the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the efforts of industrial leaders who recognized the benefits of a more rested workforce.14