January 5, 1914: When Henry Ford Doubled Wages and Accidentally Created the Modern Workday

On January 5, 1914, Henry Ford stunned the business world by announcing a five-dollar-a-day wage for factory workers — more than double the industry standard — during a time of brutal working conditions and extreme employee turnover. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy explores the true story behind Ford’s decision, why it terrified other industrialists, how it triggered chaos in Detroit, and how one unexpected move helped shape modern wages, labor expectations, consumer culture, and the concept of the eight-hour workday.

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