U.S. proposes legislation pushing 4-day workweek (2024)

FAQs

Is the US considering a 4 day work week? ›

Burnout is such a problem for workers that some bosses are considering shrinking the length of the workweek. Nearly one-third (30%) of large US companies are exploring new work schedule shifts such as four-day or four-and-a-half-day workweeks, according to a KPMG survey of CEOs released this week.

Enhanced employee satisfaction: Offering a four-day workweek can significantly boost employee satisfaction and morale. Employees appreciate having an extra day off to pursue personal interests and hobbies, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction and loyalty to the company.

The 32-hour work schedule can promote creativity and drive innovation. As employees switch to a short workweek, they need to find unique, innovative ways to complete tasks faster and save time. This encourages them to explore strategies to improve their work and develop new best practices for their roles.

A four-day working week could increase your employees' health and well-being. An extra day of rest could help reduce employee burnout and provide additional time for physical exercise. Employees are less likely to take sick leave caused by stress and illness by having more time to rest.

Even though a four-day workweek is still 40 hours worth of work, an employee may feel less overworked than their counterparts who work more of a traditional schedule. At the very least, these employees usually maintain the same productivity level.

Belgium became the first country in Europe to legislate for a four-day week. In February 2022, Belgian employees won the right to perform a full workweek in four days instead of the usual five without loss of salary.

But when I can do it, taking Friday off gives me that extra time to decompress. It's very common to work long hours and weekends in this industry, so having that extra time to myself 100% helps me manage stress. As a manager, I've seen how this schedule helps my employees, too.

A 4/10 schedule increased employee happiness overall and lessen stress in the workplace. Many employees stated that the flexibility of working 4 days a week instead of 5—whether those days landed on a Monday or a Saturday—gave them more flexibility and more work-life balance.

Resources you can use to convince your boss to trial a 4 day work week. Share your learnings about the benefits. Point to relevant case studies of other businesses similar to yours where this has already worked and be clear there's an appetite for it amongst the staff.

However, a mandatory 32-hour workweek is bad policy, said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., the ranking HELP committee member. Shortening the workweek, he predicted, will hurt productivity, which could result in the U.S. losing its status as the world's wealthiest nation and potentially lead to offshoring of jobs.

Is 44 hours a week a lot? ›

A typical full-time workweek lasts around 40 hours in many nations. As a result, continuously working a great deal more than this cutoff point—for example, routinely surpassing 50 to 60 hours per week—is often seen as overworking.

A regimen of 30 hours a week can optimize cognitive functions, which typically deteriorate past that number. It has become popular to spend five to six hours focused on work at the beginning of the day at most. For many professionals, focus seems to plateau or decline beyond five to six hours of concentration per day.

4 Day Work Week in the U.S. Traditionally, the U.S. has had a 5 day work week. While the 4 day work week has not been adopted in the U.S. to date, the country is taking steps to determine if it's a feasible option. The organization 4 Day Week Global undertook a 4 day work week pilot program across the U.S. and Canada.

Critics argue that many employees could end up working longer hours on the four days they are in the office, which could negate the benefits of an extra day off. In industries where customer service and client interactions are crucial, a four-day work week might pose challenges.

Yet, despite the clear demand, a condensed workweek is hardly mainstream at this point. According to a four-day workweek study released in 2023, only 1% of employers are currently piloting a four-day schedule, with an additional 14% considering the option.

In April 2023, Rep. Josh Cutler (D-Duxbury) and Rep. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth) filed legislation for a 4-day week pilot across Massachusetts, that would last for two years. The voluntary program is intended to allow companies to offer employees a 4-day week, with no reduction in pay, in exchange for tax credit.

Introduced in House (03/01/2023) To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours per week to 32 hours per week, and for other purposes.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 21 states have districts operating on a four-day schedule. Many are smaller and more rural districts in states such as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. Other states, like Alaska, are considering legislation to pilot or allow four-day programs.