{"id":4174,"date":"2005-10-24T13:06:13","date_gmt":"2005-10-24T17:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2005\/10\/24\/take-back-your-time-day-its-f"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:54:28","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:54:28","slug":"take-back-your-time-day-its-for-lawyers-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2005\/10\/24\/take-back-your-time-day-its-for-lawyers-too\/","title":{"rendered":"Take Back Your Time Day — it’s for lawyers, too"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Across the nation, today, people are “celebrating” <\/FONT>Take Back Your Time Day<\/FONT><\/A>. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“40 Is Enough” is this year’s theme, as the Nation commemorates the 65th <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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anniversary of the 40-hour work week statute. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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According to the San Francisco Chronicle<\/EM>, “A survey by the Families and Work <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Institute in New York found that 1 in 3 Americans feels chronically overworked, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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and a study by the American Sleep Institute found that 50 percent of Americans <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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would be willing to work fewer hours for less pay. (SFGate.com, “Overworked No <\/FONT><\/A><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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More<\/FONT><\/A>,” Oct. 22, 2005)<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"pocketwatchS\" Of course, lawyers love to see themselves as especially<\/EM> overworked, over-<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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stressed, <\/FONT>and beset by <\/FONT>life balance issues<\/FONT><\/A> — and far too many are.  I just want to point <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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out <\/FONT>that a very large percentage of adults (and children) in our nation feels the same <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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pressures.   Joining with them in the broader movement may be the best way to <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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change the policies and values that make us a nation that overworks, over-consumes, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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and does a lot more talking about family values than living them.  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\"tiny TBYT Day is is a project of the Center for Religion, Ethics and Social <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Policy (CRESP)<\/U>.at<\/FONT>Cornell University and an initiative of <\/FONT>The Simplicity Forum<\/FONT><\/A>.<\/FONT>  <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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The philosophy of the TBYT movement is a good one. As they say:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“TAKE BACK YOUR TIME DAY IS NOT ANTI-WORK. Useful and creative <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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work is essential to happiness.<\/STRONG> But American life has gotten way out <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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of balance. Producing and consuming more have become the single-minded <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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obsession of the American economy, while other values — strong families <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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and communities, good health and a clean environment, active citizenship <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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and social justice, time for nature and the soul — are increasingly neglected.” <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Their legislative agenda<\/A> makes sense:  <\/FONT>The campaign, dubbed “Time to Care,” calls <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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on political leaders for action in the f<\/FONT>ollowing areas: <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Guaranteeing paid childbirth leave for all parents<\/EM>. Today, only 40% of <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Americans are able to take advantage of the 12 weeks of unpaid leave <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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provided <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>by the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"medbag\" Guaranteeing at least one week of paid sick leave<\/EM> for all workers. <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Many  <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>Americans work while sick, lowering productivity and endangering <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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other <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>workers. <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Guaranteeing at least three weeks of paid annual vacation leave<\/EM> for all <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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workers. Studies show that 28% of all female employees and 37% of <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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women <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>earning less than $40,000 a year receive no paid vacation at all. <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Placing a limit on the amount of compulsory overtime work<\/EM> that an <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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employer <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>can impose, with our goal being to give employees the right to <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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accept or refuse overtime work. <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Making Election Day a holiday<\/EM>, with the understanding that Americans <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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need <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>time for civic and political participation. <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Making it easier for Americans to choose part-time work<\/EM>. Hourly wage <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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parity <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>and protection of promotions and pro-rated benefits for part-time <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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workers. <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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They have a downloadable <\/FONT>Endorsement Form<\/FONT><\/A>\/Petition on their Public Policy page.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
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                                                                                                             \"pocketwatchS\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Of course, “taking back” your time implies action and often courage in the workplace — <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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and, tellingly, a willingness to consume less.  (See, e.g., this article<\/A> at the Greenwich <\/EM><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Time<\/EM>, “Families Struggle to balance downtime with high expectations,” Oct. 23, 2005).<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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As <\/FONT>we said<\/FONT><\/A> earlier this year: If young lawyers want to work saner schedules but don’t <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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want to sacrifice income or “prestige,” they need to stop whining and realize that they <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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are part of the problem   And, <\/FONT>despite<\/FONT><\/A> the <\/FONT>prophets<\/FONT><\/A> who curse the <\/FONT>billable<\/FONT><\/A> hours, I <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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continue to <\/FONT>believe<\/FONT><\/A> that:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“[F]rom the perspective of the overworked associate or partner, there is nothing <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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wrong with the billable hour fee system that is not very likely to be carried over<\/EM> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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to any alternative billing arrangements, if the firm expects the shift to be made <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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without reducing its income or profits.”  [see chronomentrophobia<\/FONT><\/A> ]<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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At the TBYT website, you can find almost 20 great posters<\/A> to download, if you need <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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some graphic inspiration to join the cause (and start reassessing your<\/EM><\/A> life).  I like <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“More Time. Less Stuff”; “Medieval Peasants Worked Less than You Do;” and both <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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of the posters that say “Home Alone Again” and picture sad doggies.  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"tbyt\"  For more reading on the topic, you might want to check out the poll results <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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in this 2003 survey<\/A> — “Americans Eager to Take Back Their Time: <\/SPAN>Over Half Would <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Trade a Day’s Pay for Less Work, Less Stress.”  Those willing to make a bigger <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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time commitment (that’s you, right?) should check out the book called the TBYT<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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handbook: Take Back Your Time: Fighting Overwork and Time Poverty<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A> <\/EM>in America<\/EM> <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Jon de Graaf, editor 2003). De Graaf is also a contirubtor and the editor of the book <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Affluenza : The All-Consuming Epidemic<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A>).  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\"tiny For those<\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT>who<\/FONT><\/A> might need a <\/FONT>vinous<\/FONT><\/A> connection<\/FONT> to get them <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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interested: <\/FONT>Take Back Your Time joined in a partnership with Beringer <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Founders’ <\/FONT>Estate Wines to promote the “LIVING 5to9<\/A>” campaign, en-<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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couraging <\/FONT>better work-life balance in America.  You can go to the site <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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and make <\/FONT>a pledge to take back a number of hours per day\/year.  The <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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total <\/FONT>pledge will be announced today (Oct. 24th).  As of 11 AM, EST, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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over <\/FONT>2.6 million hours had been pledged.  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Do you think there would be <\/FONT>more <\/FONT>or less wine (and other spirits)  \"breadwine<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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consumed in America if people worked less, but were <\/FONT>less stressed?<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Younger lawyers and partners have to work together to create better lives <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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within the legal profession, by reducing the focus on profits and income (see <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Adam Smith Esq<\/EM> <\/FONT>post<\/FONT><\/A> and <\/FONT>ours<\/FONT><\/A>).   We should also do our part in the broader <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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society — using our legislative and<\/SPAN><\/SPAN> lobbying ability to help make the TBYT<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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agenda a reality.  Most important, we always have the obligation to ourselves <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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and our families <\/FONT>to do more than talk about balancing life and work.  It comes <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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down to personal choice.  Mine is clearly to have less work and less stuff.  If <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I were in San Francisco today, I’d also join the nap-in at 1 p.m. at Justin <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Herman <\/FONT>Plaza.<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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hand to hand–<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the unframed photos<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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of her life<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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the sound they make<\/DIV>
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the sound I make<\/DIV>
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autumn leaves<\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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yesterday’s paper<\/DIV>
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in the next seat–<\/DIV>
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the train picks up speed<\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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\"trikeN\"<\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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before the dew is off–<\/DIV>
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he pulls his son<\/DIV>
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in the new red wagon<\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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up late–<\/DIV>
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the furnace come on<\/DIV>
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by it self<\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV><\/FONT>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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gary hotham<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/A> <\/DIV>
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from <\/FONT>breathmarks: haiku to read in the dark<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/EM><\/A> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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