Advertisement
U.S. markets closed
  • S&P 500

    5,254.35
    +5.86 (+0.11%)
     
  • Dow 30

    39,807.37
    +47.29 (+0.12%)
     
  • Nasdaq

    16,379.46
    -20.06 (-0.12%)
     
  • Russell 2000

    2,124.55
    +10.20 (+0.48%)
     
  • Crude Oil

    83.11
    -0.06 (-0.07%)
     
  • Gold

    2,254.80
    +16.40 (+0.73%)
     
  • Silver

    25.10
    +0.18 (+0.74%)
     
  • EUR/USD

    1.0793
    0.0000 (-0.00%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.2060
    +0.0100 (+0.24%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2636
    +0.0014 (+0.11%)
     
  • USD/JPY

    151.2150
    -0.1570 (-0.10%)
     
  • Bitcoin USD

    69,316.20
    -1,966.35 (-2.76%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • FTSE 100

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • Nikkei 225

    40,369.44
    +201.37 (+0.50%)
     

Billionaire wants to 'radically overhaul' your life

How would you like to work less?  A couple of billionaires are making the case for exactly that.

The world’s second richest man, Mexican telecom billionaire Carlos Slim said at a business conference in Paraguay that it’s time for a “radical overhaul” in the way people work, according to The Financial Times. Slim said people should work three-days a week, to give employees more time to relax and have a better quality of life. However, there is catch: longer days (10 to 11 hours) and delaying retirement (to 70-or-75). The self-made, 74-year-old billionaire believes the longer days and shorter weeks will balance out to a healthier and more productive labor force.

Slim's comments come just a few weeks after Google (GOOGL) founder Larry Page talked about a four-day work week. Speaking at an event organized by venture-capital firm Khosla Ventures, Page said, "The idea that everyone needs to work frantically to meet people's needs is just not true."

“I don’t really think this is something that is really going to be mandated down through government, or is going to necessarily become industry standard anywhere in the world,” said Yahoo Finance Senior Columnist Michael Santoli. However, Santoli does think it is interesting that we are finally talking about having some flexibility about how we are structuring people’s lives.

The five-day, 40-hour work week became the standard in the U.S. in 1938. We might be overdue for an overhaul, even though the most recognizable advocates for change are a couple of billionaires who have the luxury never to work again if they so choose.

In our poll today, We want to know what you think about these two billionaires talking about a shorter work week. Do you think it’s a good idea? Vote in our poll, or leave a comment below or on Twitter.

Advertisement