Tuesday

Phil Tinline charts the progression of the working week over five days. Today, how Henry Ford kicked off our obsession with the Monday-Friday 9-5.

In this series Phil Tinline charts the progression of the working week over five days. Some of us head into the office on a Tuesday, but Phil heads to the 95 year old Ford engine plant in Dagenham to learn about the beginnings of the working week as we know it.

Phil finds out how and why Ford implemented his vision of a five day work week, and, speaking to plant workers and managers, whether the model that he created in 1926 lives on today.

But did Henry Ford really invent it, and why did it stick? Speaking to historians, Phil looks into the machinations of early 20th century society from which the 40 hr work week emerged as the go to option. Its midwives included captains of industry, organised labour, technological progress, politics and the growth of consumption.

Contributors:
Ford Engine Plant Dagenham Employees
David Henkin, author of The Week: A History of the Unnatural Rhythms That Made Us Who We Are
Jan Lucassen, author of The Story of Work

Presenter: Phil Tinline
Producer: Sam Peach
Readings by Ben Crowe
Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini
Production Manager: Debbie Waddell