In recent years the weekend has begun to fade in importance. While most people work a five day work week, when the hardware costs outweigh human costs, the competitiveness of the modern economy means that leaving a factory idle for two days or an office unmanned is of too great expense. Thus many workers regularly work on weekends. Since this is seen as a greater burden most employers pay extra for weekend work, either by agreement or by legislation.
The rapid increase in the number of two-income households has also changed the character of the weekend. Previously the stay at home spouse would do the shopping during the week; with both working most of the shopping must be done on weekends, leaving less time for recreation. To serve these new shoppers it is also necessary for more stores to remain open and thus more people to work on weekends.
