The eight - hour day movement or 40 - hour week movement, also known as the short - time movement, was a social movement to regulate the length of a working day, preventing excesses and abuses. It was started by James Deb and had its origins in the Industrial Revolution in Britain, where industrial production in large factories transformed working life. The use of child labour was common. The working day could range from 10 to 16 hours, and the work week was typically six days a week.
where did the 40 hour work week come from
the Industrial Revolution in Britain