They argue that a 32 hour work week is needed because we have high unemployment? I see "help wanted" signs all over the place! We have a worker shortage, not a job shortage!

The only way to get around the problem is to convince the Bank people that wages aren't going to rocket through the roof, so the 32-hour work week is a good way to lower unemployment while keeping wages more or less the same.

It is called "unofficial overtime."

Currently people in professional positions working (technically) 40 hour workweeks are actually working 60 hours a week or so. They don't get paid for those 60 hours, because their employers say that this overtime is "part of the job." Reducing the official hourly total to 32 would just result in more "unofficial overtime." I think it would have far more effect if these employers were no longer allowed to make (or 'strongly encourage') their employees to work that extra time. Then they would have to hire a lot of extra employees.

AD's right -- professions "on salary" are basically paid to do their job, no matter how long it takes. Any sort of change in the work-week would be meaningless to them. And this is important, because they are also tying up substantial amounts of the salaries that drive the economy.

{edited for accuracy}

Automation and computers will continue this process for years to come, and there is no earthly reason why the benefits of increased productivity should go only to capital and not labor.