Why am I not allowed to work part-time?

[Mempho]

I don't understand this about American society. Why can't I take a job doing something in my degree field (accountancy) that pays a comparable hourly rate (notice I didn't say that it paid the same....just that it is comparable on a per hour worked basis)? I could get the same volume of work done in 60% of the time anyway because of all the bs. Why is it unacceptable for someone to work in an "educated field" and work less time? I don't understand this...everywhere else in the industrialized world, this is excepted...just not in America.

[jb9]

Because benefits and facilities (desk, computer, phone) for 2 part time employees cost more than benefits for 1 full time employee.

Also, it is more management overhead to supervise 2 part time employees.

The opposite is true in some fields (retail) where the company does not provide many benefits or facilities for employees and managers prefer the flexibility of multiple people per "job" so they are not dependent on one employee.

Not saying this is right...

[smoore]

I blame Henry Ford, OP... 40 hour work week starting something-or-other.

Sounds like you need to be a contractor. No one complains if I work 30 hours in a week, they assume (rightfully so, in my case) that there are 60 hour weeks too. Add that to the fact that they only pay me for what I do and they don't care as long as the project is done in time.

Basically, as an independant contractor, I receive a deadline and set my own schedule.

[SlowStroke]

I think some of this is due to our Puritan / Christian heritage.

A common belief is: Work = Sacrifice = Suffering = Good

Not only are you SUSPOSE to work at least 40 hours a week, that work SHOULD NOT be fun.

To not work and not suffer is sinful.

Of course, if you own the factory, these are very good beliefs for your workers to adopt.

[Mempho]

[ QUOTE ]

Of course, if you own the factory, these are very good beliefs for your workers to adopt.

[/ QUOTE ]

We are now working longer hours that mideval(sp?) peasants did. Speaking of the factory owner, don't the workers have the power? I mean, without the workers, the owner is nothing and vice versa. What if all American workers fought back together?

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

because the guy who runs the business makes the rules. If you don't like it, go into business for yourself.

Where do you live? I'm pretty sure in the northeast you'd be able to find some small business that was willing to hire an accountant for a 20-hour week, or just go to a temp agency.

[HSB]

[ QUOTE ]
We are now working longer hours that mideval(sp?) peasants did.

[/ QUOTE ]

Where the heck did you come up with that?

[Mempho]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
We are now working longer hours that mideval(sp?) peasants did.

[/ QUOTE ]

Where the heck did you come up with that?

[/ QUOTE ]

TimeDay

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

It says it on that web site (no footnote, no attribution to any reseach), so it must be true. [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

[costanza_g]

[ QUOTE ]
What if all American workers fought back together?

[/ QUOTE ]

maybe we could form some kind of "union" or something. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]