This is jevons paradox at its purest. Who really thought companies were just going to let everyone go home earlier? Work is easier, now you will do even more. Congratulations.
The capital class wants you naked and afraid. If you're well rested you might have thoughts like "Why am I working for this guy, why don't I become a competitor". Instead them going "Shit, I need to work 5 more hours though I've already worked 8 today so I can keep my health insurance" is far more beneficial for them controlling everything.
It's also a question of class, fundamental to the structure of capitalism. This is the same problem ALL technological progress goes through in capitalism. Workers are not the ones in control of the organizations. Capitalists, the owners, control the organization. So if new technology makes the organization as a whole more efficient, capitalists control how the efficiency gains are distributed. Technological progress should be a good thing, liberating us from work as we become more productive, reducing working hours and increasing pay and free time. But under capitalist owners, it becomes myopic and detrimental to workers, used to squeeze out more work and revenue like you said. If workers were in control of the organizations in which they work, technological progress would be deployed as the vast majority of people wanted.
stuaxo|21 days ago
Having well rested employees that don't burn out is though.
pixl97|21 days ago
tkel|20 days ago