Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci Why We’re Working Ourselves to Death
9 snips
Sep 3, 2025 Juliet Schor, an economist and sociology professor at Boston College, delves into the pervasive issue of overwork in modern society. She discusses the need for a work-life balance and critiques societal pressures that lead to burnout. Highlights include an exploration of the four-day workweek, contrasting American and Italian work cultures, and the significant productivity and well-being benefits it could bring. Schor also addresses the positive environmental impact of reduced working hours, advocating for innovative workplace strategies and a rethinking of labor in the age of AI.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Productivity Didn’t Automatically Buy Us Free Time
- American working hours rose in the 1970s–80s instead of falling despite productivity gains.
- The pandemic renewed interest and enabled trials proving shorter weeks can work.
The Double Burden On U.S. Households
- Americans work far longer hours and have less vacation and more on-call expectations than many peers.
- Households are squeezed by paid long hours plus heavier unpaid housework and childcare time.
Launch With A Team-Led Trial
- Start by forming a team and a subcommittee to design the shift and pick a common day off.
- Empower staff to cut unnecessary meetings and engineer processes to reclaim focus time.
