In my younger days, I worked at a meat-packing plant. I was in the cold room, helping to prepare carcasses for the trucks. We got paid 7.5 hours for moving whatever beef was out there into trucks. Sometimes we were done in five hours. We worked fast, but I wonder about the compromises we made to safety.

On the other side the plant — the killfloor — work rate was dictated by the chain. Those workers had to work 7.5 hours regardless.

Some workplaces can be set up for an early exit; some not.

I think it is incumbent on all workers to develop a sense of excellence. That too often does not happen — even with incentives.