We're No. 1

Each week of last year, the average nonagricultural U.S. worker toiled for exactly 35 hr. 36 min. Because of that effort, America can now claim title to a dubious superlative: world's shortest work week.

That distinction was bestowed last week by the International Labor Organization in its latest study of global work patterns. The news will be cheering to those patriotic dawdlers, clock watchers and absentees who have selflessly dedicated themselves to making the U.S. No. 1. No longer must Americans play second time clock to the once lackadaisical Belgians; those benighted strivers had the cheek last year to add half an hour to their average work week, bringing it to 35 hr. 48 min. That was still far less diligent than the hapless Egyptians, whom the I.L.O. calls the world's longest workers, at 56 hours and counting. Yes, hard work may have built this country, but it never put us in the record books.

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