This 57th edition of "Our Review" is a summary of the book "The Rhythms of Labor: An Inquiry into Working Hours in Western Europe, 14th-19th Centuries" by Corinne Maitte and Didier Terrier, published in 2020. Corinne Maitte, Professor of Modern History at Gustave Eiffel University, and Didier Terrier, Professor Emeritus at Hauts-de-France Polytechnic University, examine the evolution of working hours in Western Europe over the long term, from the 14th to the 19th century.

Contrary to popular belief, the authors show that work did not follow a linear progression. Depending on the context, professions, and regions, periods of extension, reduction, and high variability alternated. They demonstrate that even in the Middle Ages, working days could be long and structured, and that industrialization did not introduce work discipline, but rather intensified and transformed it.

The book highlights the central role of time as a tool for measurement, control, and remuneration, as well as the constant tensions between workers and employers regarding schedules, breaks, and work intensity. It also emphasizes that the reduction in working hours, which began mainly between 1890 and 1920, did not necessarily lead to a decrease in effort.

Through this historical inquiry, the authors ultimately examine the links between working hours, productivity, and economic organization, showing that the intensification of work and the pursuit of efficiency characterized the entire period, long before industrialization.

About the “Our Review” collection

This publication is part of a series of summaries of academic works referencing issues related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). These notes do not represent the opinion of the leDoTank think tank and do not engage its responsibility for the views expressed: they aim to provide readers with resources to stimulate their thinking and encourage them to delve deeper into the works and their authors.

LeDoTank is an association whose mission is to bridge the knowledge and understanding gap regarding medium-sized enterprises – in their governance, financing, and social or environmental performance.

Through this partnership, Nexia S&A reaffirms its commitment to exploring, with leDoTank, major contemporary societal challenges and to promoting an informed and responsible approach to economic development.

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