A four-day workweek is the future. Here’s why
The future of work is rapidly changing. Today, millions of Americans are enjoying flexible work because of the pandemic – and when it finally ends, they will want more, not less, freedom. These workers are ready for a new normal, and that’s exactly what a 32-hour workweek can provide.
Pilot programs run by governments and businesses in countries such as Iceland, New Zealand, Spain and Japan have experimented with a four-day workweek and reported very promising results. According to pilot studies, workers reported anywhere from a 25% to 40% increase in productivity, as well as an improved work/life balance, less need to take sick days, more time to spend with family and children, less money spent on childcare, and a more flexible working schedule which leads to better morale. This is a global paradigm shift that will bring into question everything we thought we knew about the workplace.
Our economy is comprised not only of white-collar workers, and people from all backgrounds should benefit from the changing status quo. The pandemic left millions of hourly workers unemployed or underemployed. The labor market is becoming more competitive, and workers must feel enabled to demand better working conditions at higher wages, which is why I’ve introduced federal legislation to lower the overtime threshold from 40 hours to 32 hours per week for nonexempt employees. This legislation does not limit the number of hours a person can work; it entitles employees to begin earning time-and-a-half after 32 hours of work, resulting in a 10% pay increase. Employers would either pay their employees additional overtime or find other workers to fill in the gaps. More simply, this bill is about empowering hourly workers.
Big, bold change is difficult, but this country has historical precedent to show that the change we are seeking is completely reasonable and attainable. A century ago, a five-day workweek and a two-day weekend were novel concepts that employers were hesitant to accept. In 1908, a New England cotton mill was among the first to institute a five-day workweek, so that Jewish workers would not have to work on the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. In 1926, Henry Ford followed suit and began shutting down his automotive factories on Saturdays and Sundays. In 1929, the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America became the first union to demand and receive a five-day workweek. And, finally, in 1940, a provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act mandated a maximum 40-hour workweek and officially went into effect nationwide. This is a gradual process, and just one component of the
suite of comprehensive labor reforms that must take shape in our country – but we cannot shy away from progress.
Our country – and our world – has experienced tremendous change in less than two years. People are overworked, burned out, worn out and tired. It’s time that we, as a nation, put people first, and that begins with reforming our outdated, inefficient and ineffective business model and transitioning to a 32hour workweek. The 32-hour workweek is the future of work, and we must embrace it.
Congressman Mark Takano is the United States Representative for California’s 41st congressional district