Definition of working day

The term "working day" originally emerged in the 19th century during the Industrial Revolution, as Factory Acts were enacted to protect child laborers. These laws restricted the hours that children could work in factories, as well as mandating times when factories had to close, in order to promote education and ensure that children had sufficient time to rest and recover. The phrase "working day" was coined as a legal term to describe the hours during which factories could legally operate. It has since been extended to refer to the number of hours during which employees are required or expected to work, whether in a traditional factory setting or in an office environment. In modern usage, the precise definition of a "working day" can vary widely by industry and company policy. Some organizations may consider a working day to be a fixed number of hours, while others may set different expectations based on factors such as job function, seniority, or schedule flexibility. Nonetheless, the term "working day" remains an important concept in determining employee wages, benefits, and legal entitlements.