In 1926, Henry Ford implemented a pioneering five-day, 40-hour workweek (eight hours per day) for Ford Motor Company factory workers, a shift from the standard six-day, 48+ hour week. This move, which introduced the two-day weekend, aimed to boost productivity, reduce turnover, and increase employee consumption of Ford vehicles.
Five-day workweek
In addition to raising his workers' wages, Ford also introduced a new, reduced workweek in 1926. The decision was made in 1922, when Ford and Crowther described it as six 8-hour days, giving a 48-hour week, but in 1926 it was announced as five 8-hour days, giving a 40-hour week.
1926: Henry Ford introduced 40-hour work weeks with five working days with no cut in wages after discovering that 48-hour work weeks yielded only a small increase in productivity that lasted a short period. This discovery inspired other manufacturing companies to adopt the 40-hour work week.
In 1926, Henry Ford standardized on a five-day workweek, instead of the prevalent six days, without reducing employees' pay.
It was henry ford, and he normally worked 6 days a week. His observation 5 day 8 hour a day work schedule optimized production.
American businessman and founder of the Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford, is often credited with ushering in the age of the 40-hour workweek. Indeed, Ford's adoption of a five-day, 40-hour week set a precedent that many other American companies would adopt.
Variations in Weekends Around the World
When the government saw a shorter work week as a way to fight the massive unemployment crisis by spreading the remaining labor out over more people. That led to a series of laws that eventually enshrined 40 hours as America's work week in 1940.
Vanuatu has the shortest average workweek globally at around 24.7 hours, followed by Kiribati and the Netherlands, which often leads in Europe with about 30-32 hours due to a strong culture of part-time work and flexibility, though actual hours vary by data source and year.
8-Hour Work Day. On August 20, 1866, the newly organized National Labor Union called on Congress to mandate an eight-hour workday. A coalition of skilled and unskilled workers, farmers, and reformers, the National Labor Union was created to pressure Congress to enact labor reforms.
Henry Ford is credited with popularizing the 9-to-5, 40-hour workweek in 1926 by implementing it at the Ford Motor Company, believing it boosted productivity and consumerism, a move later solidified by the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938. While earlier movements and laws pushed for shorter days, Ford's adoption by a major manufacturer made it a standard for other businesses.
The Five Dollar Day. On January 5, 1914, Henry Ford announced a minimum five dollar salary for all elegible employees working eight-hour days. It was conceived as a profit-sharing plan which would motivate Ford employees to adopt efficient and productive habits at both the factory and the home.
Henry Ford: second-generation immigrant, entrepreneur, and founding father of one of America's most famous companies. By making cars affordable for the masses, he built up a fortune that would be worth around $200 billion (£162bn) today – but what happened to all that money after he died in 1947?
In 1926, Henry Ford made a bold decision that would forever change the rhythm of American life: he introduced a five-day, 40-hour workweek for employees at the Ford Motor Company. At a time when six-day workweeks were the norm, Ford's move was revolutionary.
Pioneering employers — and a six-hour workday — make waves
The first chassis on the assembly aisle at the Ford factory in Long Beach, California. In 1926, Ford Motor Company become one of the first employers to institute an eight-hour-a-day, five-day workweek.
It's hard to imagine a world where Fridays don't start the weekend, but the two-day weekend only rose to popularity in the 20th century. The five-day, 40-hour workweek became part of American labor law partly due to Henry Ford.
Here are the top 10 most overworked countries in 2025:
Many employers overlook that making staff work 10–12 hours a day without fair pay or rest isn't just exploitative — it's illegal. Under the Factories Act, 1948, employees are entitled to a maximum of 9 hours a day, 48 hours a week, with proper breaks and double pay for overtime.
Henry Ford's Five-Day Week | Teaching American History.
Standard working hours of countries worldwide are around 40 to 44 hours per week - but not everywhere: from 35 hours per week in France to up to 60 hours per week in nations such as Bhutan.
If you have a rule like this of your own, I'd love to hear about it!
Japan. In 2021, the Japanese government's annual economic policy guidelines included a recommendation that companies let employees opt for a four-day workweek and, by extension, a 3-day weekend.
Good Friday occurs two days before Easter Sunday in the United States. It is the day when Christians commemorate Jesus Christ's crucifixion, which plays an important part in the Christian faith.