Rethinking work and its organisation through the lens of William Morris

The length of the working day has traditionally constituted a point of contention between capital and labour. The working day has been a key issue for labour movements, who have imposed limitations on corporations. In the context of neoliberal regulation, such restrictions have been circumvented. In Western countries, the formal working day has been reduced yet working hours have changed. This is evidenced by the increase in night work and the growing expectation of being available for work at short notice. In industrial peripheries around the globe, the 48-hour threshold is frequently exceeded. The coexistence of unemployment, underemployment and overwork represents a significant challenge for the rethinking of work organisation and industrial relations in the contemporary era. This contribution examines the socio-historical evolution of working hours with a view to offering a reinterpretation of selected political texts by William Morris, in order to imagine an alternative for the future.