
At the same time, a lot of positions may require employees to stay in touch or on call, even when the normal work day is over. There are significant numbers of contract workers and temporary employees, whose working hours are not regulated. The present-day labor market is a far more complex and diverse phenomenon than it was one hundred years ago. Most countries will have an average of between 220 and 260 workdays per year. The average number of workdays per year also varies from country to country. The answer to this question differs, depending on what country you live in, how many hours you work per day, and if you take weekends off. So, what is the contemporary work week like? In 1940, Congress amended that act and established a 40-hour work week, as we know it today. In addition, this act began to regulate minimum wage rates, overtime pay and child labor standards. The pressure of this rising tide of workplace populism resulted in the creation of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which limited working hours to 44 hours per week and 8.8 hours per day, respectively. The labor union movements continued to gain in popularity, and demonstrations for reductions of work hours were seen here and there throughout the country.

Several states even passed laws that called for 10-hour work days, but these laws were not observed. These work hours and other generally inhumane working conditions led to the creation of labor unions and the emergence of the first movements towards shorter work weeks. As a result, the average work hours in manufacturing in the U.S. The eventual excess of workers in the manufacturing sector allowed the factory owners to dictate the rules. In 1712, the invention of the practical steam engine signaled the beginning of what became known as the Industrial Revolution, and this drastically changed the labor market. In most cases, people worked longer than 80 hours per week. Until the 19th century, the typical work week was 10 – 12 hours, 6-7 days a week, depending on the occupation, season and length of the day. With the course of time, the Babylonian concept of the “planetary week” spread to Egypt, Greece, Rome, and finally it became the generally accepted norm worldwide. This number became sacred to them, and they planned their days around it. The Babylonians believed that the solar system was composed of seven planets. Most historians agree that the concept of a seven-day week dates back about 4,000 years ago to Babylonian times. For us to better understand the nature of the modern working week, we must go back to its roots. The modern concept of the work week is a relatively new invention that didn’t become a labor standard by a simple twist of fate. The 40-hour work week or 8-hour work day wasn’t there from the very beginning. In this article, we are going to delve into the history of work hours and discuss why it is important to know how many working weeks, days and hours there are in a year. All of this can result in decreased productivity and eventually job burnout, which was even classified as an “occupational phenomenon” in 2019 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In addition, 24/7 work time availability makes it difficult for some employees to plan and spend quality leisure time and vacations. Most of them end up either multitasking and overworking, or procrastinating and being unable to stay focused on their tasks. Due to these same flexible and personalized working hours, a vast number of employees find it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Yet, there is always another side of the coin. Today’s technologies have presented us with an opportunity to have more flexible working schedules. With the ability to stay connected around-the-clock and work from any location, modern employees are experiencing the freedom to choose when, where and how they want to work. In fact, technological advances have completely changed not only our everyday routines, but also our work lives. An impressive number, isn’t it? If, like me, you have ever wondered how many days in a year you’re going to spend at work, now you know – approximately 71.2% of the year.
