by a shorter workday (from nine to eight hours). While this rate didn’t automatically apply to every worker, it more than doubled the average autoworker’s wage.

 

While Henry Ford’s primary objective was to reduce worker attrition—labor turnover from monotonous assembly line work was high—newspapers from all over the world reported the story as an extraordinary gesture of goodwill.

 

After Ford’s announcement thousands of prospective workers showed up at the Ford Motor Company employment office. People surged toward Detroit from the American South and Europe. As expected, employee turnover diminished. And, by creating an eight-hour workday, Ford could run three shifts instead of two, increasing productivity. Henry Ford had reasoned that since it was now pos...

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