There’s been a lot of talk lately — including from Bernie Sanders — about shortening the work week in the face of ever-improving productivity driven by AI and other technologies. On paper, this makes sense: if machines do more of the repetitive work, surely humans should get more time back.
But as someone working in tech, I want to suggest an alternative that could have even more social benefit: instead of simply working fewer days, what if we kept our salaries and our roles — but committed a portion of our working days to volunteering for sectors that need human time and care the most?
Tech Productivity vs. Undervalued Work
The reality is that while AI and digital tools have made many tech jobs more efficient, they have done little to directly support sectors like afforestation, rewilding, childcare, elder care, and other community services. These areas are chronically underfunded and understaffed — not because there’s no work to do, but because society undervalues this work financially.
Many of us in tech can’t just switch to these jobs full time — the pay wouldn’t cover even basic living costs, especially with rent and bills at today’s levels. But we could offer our time and skills if our employers and governments supported the idea.
Volunteer Days: A New Standard Benefit?
My company just introduced one volunteer day a year as a employee benefit. I know this is not new, but I’ve never had this in past, so it’s definitely not standard. Imagine if every tech company standardised, say, 10–20 days per year of paid volunteer time — not just for corporate volunteering initiatives that look good on LinkedIn, but for real hands-on help in local schools, conservation projects, community gardens, or neighbourhood care networks.
This wouldn’t just improve workers’ mental health and work-life balance — it would reconnect highly skilled people with their communities, redirect some of the benefits of productivity into places AI can’t reach, and relieve burnout by reminding us we’re more than a pair of typing hands for someone else’s profit margin.
It’s Not Charity — It’s Fair Redistribution
A more productive tech sector should benefit everyone, not just shareholders. If shorter weeks mean lower stress and higher wellbeing, great. But if we’re serious about building resilient societies, we should also channel some of this human capacity to sectors where more people-hours — not more AI — are desperately needed.
My Experience
I know I can’t afford my basic bills unless I stay in tech. But the rat race is eating my mental health — and I’m not alone. My friends in the industry feel it too: we want to help build a better world, not just another app or algorithm.
Paid volunteer days could be a bridge: a way to sustain our livelihoods and support the parts of society that algorithms alone can’t fix.