In the US productivity isn't just a measurement. It's a moral good. I think part of the reason why our relationship to work is so fraught here in the United States is that the consequences of losing work are so dire. That's a future that I want to live in for sure where we can separate our basic human needs from our employment status.
In today's episode, Simone Stolzoff ("The Good Enough Job") tells Michael that when you think about the role work plays in your life, "it's worth considering that valuing more free time over more money tends to be more fulfilling and lead to higher overall well-being."