who came up with 5 day work week
The present - day concept of the ' week - end ' first arose in the industrial north of Britain in the early part of nineteenth century and was originally a voluntary arrangement between factory owners and workers allowing Saturday afternoon off from 2pm in agreement that staff would be available for work sober and refreshed on Monday morning . The Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America Union was the first to successfully demand a five - day work week in 1929 .