Across the nation, today, people are “celebrating” Take Back Your Time Day.
“40 Is Enough” is this year’s theme, as the Nation commemorates the 65th
anniversary of the 40-hour work week statute.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “A survey by the Families and Work
Institute in New York found that 1 in 3 Americans feels chronically overworked,
and a study by the American Sleep Institute found that 50 percent of Americans
would be willing to work fewer hours for less pay. (SFGate.com, “Overworked No
More,” Oct. 22, 2005)
Of course, lawyers love to see themselves as especially overworked, over-
stressed, and beset by life balance issues — and far too many are. I just want to point
out that a very large percentage of adults (and children) in our nation feels the same
pressures. Joining with them in the broader movement may be the best way to
change the policies and values that make us a nation that overworks, over-consumes,
and does a lot more talking about family values than living them.
TBYT Day is is a project of the Center for Religion, Ethics and Social
Policy (CRESP).atCornell University and an initiative of The Simplicity Forum.
The philosophy of the TBYT movement is a good one. As they say:
“TAKE BACK YOUR TIME DAY IS NOT ANTI-WORK. Useful and creative
work is essential to happiness. But American life has gotten way out
of balance. Producing and consuming more have become the single-minded
obsession of the American economy, while other values — strong families
and communities, good health and a clean environment, active citizenship
and social justice, time for nature and the soul — are increasingly neglected.”
Their legislative agenda makes sense: The campaign, dubbed “Time to Care,” calls
on political leaders for action in the following areas:
Guaranteeing paid childbirth leave for all parents. Today, only 40% of
Americans are able to take advantage of the 12 weeks of unpaid leave
provided by the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
Guaranteeing at least one week of paid sick leave for all workers.
Many Americans work while sick, lowering productivity and endangering
other workers.
Guaranteeing at least three weeks of paid annual vacation leave for all
workers. Studies show that 28% of all female employees and 37% of
women earning less than $40,000 a year receive no paid vacation at all.
Placing a limit on the amount of compulsory overtime work that an
employer can impose, with our goal being to give employees the right to
accept or refuse overtime work.
Making Election Day a holiday, with the understanding that Americans
need time for civic and political participation.
Making it easier for Americans to choose part-time work. Hourly wage
parity and protection of promotions and pro-rated benefits for part-time
workers.
They have a downloadable Endorsement Form/Petition on their Public Policy page.
Of course, “taking back” your time implies action and often courage in the workplace —
and, tellingly, a willingness to consume less. (See, e.g., this article at the Greenwich
Time, “Families Struggle to balance downtime with high expectations,” Oct. 23, 2005).
As we said earlier this year: If young lawyers want to work saner schedules but don’t
want to sacrifice income or “prestige,” they need to stop whining and realize that they
continue to believe that:
“[F]rom the perspective of the overworked associate or partner, there is nothing
wrong with the billable hour fee system that is not very likely to be carried over
to any alternative billing arrangements, if the firm expects the shift to be made
without reducing its income or profits.” [see chronomentrophobia ]
At the TBYT website, you can find almost 20 great posters to download, if you need
some graphic inspiration to join the cause (and start reassessing your life). I like
“More Time. Less Stuff”; “Medieval Peasants Worked Less than You Do;” and both
of the posters that say “Home Alone Again” and picture sad doggies.
For more reading on the topic, you might want to check out the poll results
in this 2003 survey — “Americans Eager to Take Back Their Time: Over Half Would
Trade a Day’s Pay for Less Work, Less Stress.” Those willing to make a bigger
time commitment (that’s you, right?) should check out the book called the TBYT
handbook: Take Back Your Time: Fighting Overwork and Time Poverty in America
Jon de Graaf, editor 2003). De Graaf is also a contirubtor and the editor of the book
interested: Take Back Your Time joined in a partnership with Beringer
Founders’ Estate Wines to promote the “LIVING 5to9” campaign, en-
couraging better work-life balance in America. You can go to the site
and make a pledge to take back a number of hours per day/year. The
total pledge will be announced today (Oct. 24th). As of 11 AM, EST,
over 2.6 million hours had been pledged.
Do you think there would be more or less wine (and other spirits)
consumed in America if people worked less, but were less stressed?
Younger lawyers and partners have to work together to create better lives
within the legal profession, by reducing the focus on profits and income (see
society — using our legislative and lobbying ability to help make the TBYT
agenda a reality. Most important, we always have the obligation to ourselves
and our families to do more than talk about balancing life and work. It comes
down to personal choice. Mine is clearly to have less work and less stuff. If
I were in San Francisco today, I’d also join the nap-in at 1 p.m. at Justin
Herman Plaza.
hand to hand–
the unframed photos
of her life
the sound they make
the sound I make
autumn leaves
yesterday’s paper
in the next seat–
the train picks up speed
before the dew is off–
he pulls his son
in the new red wagon
up late–
the furnace come on
by it self
by dagosan
rearview mirror–
the baby face
is gone
[Oct 24, 2005]
October 24, 2005
Take Back Your Time Day — it’s for lawyers, too
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