The term originated to rebut the idea that reducing the number of hours employees are allowed to labour during the working day would lead to a reduction in unemployment.
[1] This change did not result in large-scale unemployment, because workers found jobs in newly created industries (like farm equipment manufacturing).
For example, low-skilled immigrant laborers enable U.S.-born farmers, contractors, and craftsmen to expand production and construction, increasing employment opportunities and incomes for U.S. workers.
It is then argued that since growth depends on having either more workers or greater productivity, the society cannot really become more prosperous by paying an increasing number of its citizens unproductively.
The article also points out that even early retirees with private pension funds become a burden on society as they also depend on equity and bond income generated by workers.