4-day work week: which states want to implement it and what it needs to get ahead
There have been efforts to push for a four-day work week in the U.S. both in Congress and at the state level. Which states want to implement the scheme?
Many workers who get tired of the daily grind pine for a four-day workweek, and this desire is not as far-fetched as one might think. In some places, this is already a reality.
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders last month introduced a measure that would shorten the workweek from 40 to 32 hours without employees suffering a pay cut.
Sanders’ proposal has a counterpart in the House of Representatives which was filed by Democratic Representative Mark Takano of California in March last year.
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4-day work week: which states want to implement it and what it needs to get ahead
On a more local level, several states also have put forth initiatives to implement a four-day workweek, achieving different levels of success.
California
Aside from his proposal in the House of Representatives, Takano also filed a bill for cutting work hours in the Golden State in July last year. He re-introduced the measure after it fell by the wayside after his initial attempt in 2021.
Massachusetts
In May last year, a bill proposed a four-day workweek pilot program that would last two years, during which time companies would gather data on the scheme. If the proposal becomes law, employees would enjoy the decreased hours without having their salary or benefits reduced, while employers would receive tax credit.
Maryland
Delegate Vaughn Stewart introduced a measure similar to the one filed in Massachusetts in January 2023, but withdrew it just a couple of months later. He faced difficulty getting support for his proposal, because the idea of a 40-hour work week was rooted too deeply to dislodge.
Missouri
Missouri has already implemented a four-day week for some of its teachers. The state announced last year that it was putting the shorter hours into practice for a third of its schools. The program aims to improve the retention rate of teachers.
Texas
Texas, like Missouri, has been enforcing four-day weeks for some of its students. The initiative is also directed at efforts to retain teachers.
There have been studies indicating that those who have implemented a four-day workweek saw positive effects from the practice, both in worker satisfaction and company output.
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Resistance to the 4-day work week
Despite these positive reviews, there is resistance to the idea from legislators both in the national and local levels. Some lawmakers believe that the practice might adversely affect smaller businesses, or that the four-day workweek is simply not practical for certain industries. There is also the deeply ingrained emphasis on having a 40-hour workweek, which was put into place nearly 100 years ago.
If the four-day work week is to gain traction, there needs to be a shift in mindset that a five-day week is the best way to go. This change in perspective would be one way to lessen the resistance among lawmakers who are against shortened work hours. There also needs to be comprehensive planning for those intending to carry it out, so as to minimize the difficulties in the adjustment of business operations.
If there are enough success stories about those who have made the big leap to a shorter work week both on the employer and the employee front, legislation might be able to get the support it needs not only from lawmakers but from their constituents as well.