The 40 Hour Workweek Is 84 Years Old. Remote Work Is the Next Evolution.
The 40 hour workweek became standard 84 years ago. In 1817 people worked 80 to 100 hour weeks. Remote and hybrid work is the next evolution of how we work.
Originally shared on LinkedIn: May 31, 2026
The 40 hour workweek became "standard" 84 years ago in the USA.
Before this time... working hours were wild.
In 1817... many people were working 80 to 100 hour weeks.
In 1926... Henry Ford popularized the 40 hour work week after realizing that working more only SLIGHTLY increased productivity.
BTW, I'm looking at you Google. The 60 hour work week is not a "sweet spot" for productivity. It's a great way to get an extra 50% squeeze for the same cost of headcount though.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (which standardized 40 hour work weeks) became law in 1940.
40 hours in the office was a great improvement, but it's as old as my grandmother.
Today, the shift is moving to remote work.
The pandemic proved that remote work could be performed at a level equal or greater to in-office work.
It reduced waste of resources and time... and employees loved the flexibility that it provides.
84 years is too long to adapt to a new standard of living.
Companies who embrace remote and hybrid work are building the workforce of the future.
And it's needed because going into an office is unnecessary, wasteful, and deprives people of flexibility to spend more time on things that really matter... like your health and family.
What the audience said
The original LinkedIn post ran a poll. 790 votes came in before it closed. The audience answered decisively.
Poll question: Is remote/hybrid work the future of work?
- Absolutely: 76%
- Probably: 14%
- Not Sure: 9%
Nine out of every ten respondents said remote or hybrid work is the future. The people already living the shift are not confused about which direction the workforce is moving.
The 40 hour in-office standard was the right answer for 1940. The next standard is already being written by the companies willing to build for how work actually happens now.
For the framework on why hiring converges on the companies that pay for productivity, and how to position yourself as the Candidate of Choice inside them, read The Theory of Hireability™.
If you're ready to land a six-figure remote role at one of the companies building the workforce of the future, come get the playbook at Six-Figure Remote Career Strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the 40 hour workweek become standard in the USA?
The Fair Labor Standards Act, which standardized 40 hour workweeks in the USA, became law in 1940. That is 84 years ago. Before then, working hours were wild. In 1817, many people were working 80 to 100 hour weeks. In 1926, Henry Ford popularized the 40 hour workweek after realizing that working more only slightly increased productivity.
Why is remote work considered the next evolution of the workweek?
The pandemic proved that remote work could be performed at a level equal to or greater than in-office work. It reduced waste of resources and time, and employees loved the flexibility that it provides. 84 years is too long to adapt to a new standard of living. Companies who embrace remote and hybrid work are building the workforce of the future.
Is going into an office still necessary?
Going into an office is unnecessary, wasteful, and deprives people of flexibility to spend more time on things that really matter, like your health and family. The 60 hour workweek is not a productivity sweet spot. It is a way to get an extra 50 percent squeeze for the same cost of headcount.
How do senior professionals actually land a fully remote six-figure role?
Not by out-applying the flood. Fully remote roles are the most competitive listings on the internet, and applying harder does not win them. You win them by becoming the Candidate of Choice inside the companies that pay for productivity, so you are already inside the hiring conversation before the role even posts.
