Henry Ford's 1926 weekend policy marked first widespread adoption
UKPulse News Desk
A century ago, on 25 September 1926, Henry Ford implemented a policy of weekends for his workforce, representing the first widespread adoption of the concept.
- Henry Ford instituted a weekend policy for his workforce on 25 September 1926.
- This policy was the first widespread adoption of the weekend, following decades of labour campaigns.
- President Franklin Roosevelt formalized the weekend as federal policy in the US with the Fair Labor Standards Act on 25 June 1938.
Almost exactly a century ago, on 25 September 1926, Henry Ford introduced a policy of weekends for his employees. This marked the first widespread adoption of the weekend, building on decades of labour campaigns advocating for such a break.
The concept gained traction, supported by popular culture. In 1929, Walt Disney used Saturday matinees to launch The Mickey Mouse Club. The weekend was later formalized as federal policy in the US on 25 June 1938, with President Franklin Roosevelt passing the Fair Labor Standards Act.