Slate Money cover image

Slate Money

Money Talks: It’s Time to Work Less

Oct 1, 2024
Brigid Schulte, author and work culture reformer, teams up with labor commentator Emily Peck to tackle America's struggle with overwork. They dissect the detrimental impacts of relentless hustle on well-being, particularly among low-wage workers facing financial instability. The discussion dives into insights from countries with better work-life balance, advocates for a four-day workweek, and emphasizes the role of unions in improving conditions for essential jobs. Together, they inspire a reimagining of our work culture for a healthier, happier future.
48:41

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast addresses the pervasive overwork culture in America, highlighting how it negatively impacts both high-earning and low-wage workers' health and productivity.
  • It discusses potential solutions for improving labor conditions, including adopting a four-day workweek and learning from successful international work cultures.

Deep dives

The Impact of Overwork Culture

Overwork culture has become pervasive across various professions, affecting both high-earning knowledge workers and those in low-wage jobs. Many knowledge workers are pressured to equate long hours with valued performance, leading to detrimental effects on health and productivity. Professionals, especially in sectors like law and finance, are often celebrated for their intense work schedules, despite evidence indicating that prolonged hours can lead to mistakes and burnout. Meanwhile, hourly workers navigate their overwork by juggling multiple jobs and side gigs, revealing that the drive to work excessively is influenced by both personal ambition and systemic pressures.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode