measured daywork: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Historical
Quick answer
What does “measured daywork” mean?
A system of work in industry where a fair day's output is determined by time-and-motion studies, and workers are paid a fixed rate for achieving it, rather than by piecework or bonus.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A system of work in industry where a fair day's output is determined by time-and-motion studies, and workers are paid a fixed rate for achieving it, rather than by piecework or bonus.
In UK industrial relations, a specific historical system (prevalent from the 1950s to 1970s) aimed at improving productivity by setting defined tasks to be completed within a normal working day for a set wage, often linked to workplace agreements and productivity bargaining. In modern broader usage, it can refer to any work system where pay is based on completing a predetermined, 'measured' amount of work per day.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in and is strongly associated with post-war British industrial relations. In American English, similar concepts are more typically referred to as "measured work standards," "time-standard pay," or specific systems like "MTM" (Methods-Time Measurement). "Measured daywork" is understood in American industrial contexts but is less of a historical term of art.
Connotations
UK: Connotes a specific historical period of productivity deals, often associated with trade union negotiations and industrial stability (or conflict). US: Carries a more neutral, technical engineering/management connotation.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general corpora. Historical usage peaked in UK texts from the 1960s-1980s. Currently rare outside academic or specialised historical discussions of industry.
Grammar
How to Use “measured daywork” in a Sentence
[Company/Union] introduced measured daywork in [year/department].The workers were placed on a system of measured daywork.Pay under measured daywork was [adjective].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “measured daywork” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The measured-daywork system was controversial.
- They reached a measured-daywork agreement.
American English
- The measured-daywork approach was analyzed in the study.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR/Operations history discussions about compensation models.
Academic
Common in papers on industrial relations history, labour economics, and the sociology of work.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Precise term in industrial engineering and historical labour management texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “measured daywork”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “measured daywork”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “measured daywork”
- Using it as a plural (*measured dayworks).
- Confusing it with 'piecework'.
- Using it to describe modern gig-economy work.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In its classic post-war UK form, it is largely historical. However, the underlying principle of paying a fixed rate for a defined standard output (common in some service level agreements) persists.
An hourly wage pays for time spent, regardless of output. Measured daywork pays for the successful completion of a specific, measured amount of work within the normal working day.
It varied. Measured daywork offered predictable, stable earnings without the pressure to constantly maximize output. Piecework offered higher potential earnings for faster workers but with less income security and greater physical strain.
To increase managerial control over production standards, stabilize labour costs, reduce disputes over bonus rates, and secure a guaranteed level of productivity from the workforce.
A system of work in industry where a fair day's output is determined by time-and-motion studies, and workers are paid a fixed rate for achieving it, rather than by piecework or bonus.
Measured daywork is usually formal, technical, historical in register.
Measured daywork: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmeʒəd ˈdeɪwɜːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmeʒərd ˈdeɪwɜːrk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WORK DAY where your output is MEASURED (calculated) in advance, not counted piece by piece.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORK IS A MEASURABLE QUANTITY (to be contained within a standard container - the day).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of measured daywork?