[originaltext] Americans suffer from an overdose of work. Regardless of who

Americans suffer from an overdose of work. Regardless of who they are or what they do, Americans spend more time at work than at any time since World War Ⅱ. In 1950, the US had fewer working hours than any other industrialized country. Today it exceeds every country but Japan, where industrial employees log 2,155 hours a year, compared with 1, 951 in the US, and 1,603 in the former West Germany. Between 1969 and 1989 employed Americans added an average of 138 hours to their yearly work schedules. The work week has remained at about 40 hours, but people are working more weeks each year. Specifically, pay time off holidays, vacations, sick leave shrank by 50% in the 1980’s. As corporations have experienced stiff competition and slower growth productivity, they have pressed employees to work longer. Cost cutting lay-offs in the 1980’s reduced the professional and managerial ranks leaving fewer people to get the job done. In lower paid occupations,, when wages have been reduced, workers have added hours in overtime or extra jobs to preserve their living standards. The government estimates that more than 7 million people hold a second job. For the first time, large numbers of people say they want to cut back on working hours even if it means earning less money. But most employers are unwilling to let them do so. The government, which has stepped back from its traditional role as a regulator? of work time should take steps to make shorter hours possible.