We’ve only had legislation around a 40-hour work week for less than 100 years. If your great-grandparents lived in the United States, chances are strong that they worked 60-80 hour weeks on the regular. Those of you with a more extensive US lineage likely had elders who worked even longer hours, some even 24/7.

I come from coal miners, who spent incredibly long days doing difficult physical labor and breathing in all that coal dust.

Our ancestors labored extensively.

In part because it was mandated by their employer and in part because that was the way out of poverty.

Even with contemporary labor laws, my parents both worked a full-time job and had multiple part-time jobs for much of my childhood. My father was a bank teller by day but spent early mornings at the Peoria stockyard before heading to the bank. After the bank and on weekends, he staffed a t-shirt stand at the Peoria Civic Center, where I hung out under the table and listened to Poison and every other 80s hair band. This man worked a minimum of 60 hours a week.

My mother as well had a full-time job at the bank plus a part-time job in the evenings, plus the work shift when she got home to cook, clean, and caretake. Over time, we went from being broke to lower middle class via the labor of my parents.

My family taught me work ethic. We can endure for a long time under rough conditions.

But do I have to?

I don’t think my great grandfather wiped coal dust from his forehead hoping one day his grand granddaughter could do the same. I’m guessing he wanted better for me. For us all. (In fact, my family’s union participation and leadership suggests as much.)

Our elders worked their asses off so that their lineage could have it a little easier.

So why aren’t we taking it easier?

Let’s not waste the labor of our ancestors.

They worked 80 hour weeks so we would be in the position of asking how to live a balanced life – and to have that answer within reach.

Your grandma doesn’t want you answering work emails within minutes of waking up. Your grandma wants you to breathe easy and feel happy.

Grandad organized and negotiated so you could earn fair compensation for your talent, worry less, and enjoy down time. So charge what you’re worth and take vacation.

You don’t have to earn rest or a nap or a 4-day work week. Your ancestors already paid that tab.