Policy Developments

In the last decade, over 100 legislators across 20 states have taken policy action on the 4-day workweek. We’ve compiled a list of developments at the federal, state, and local levels for you below.

Federal Policy Developments

  • Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) introduced the first congressional bill in recent years to advance the four-day workweek: The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act (H.R.1332). The bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours for non-exempt employees. Employers would be required to pay overtime compensation to non-exempt employees whose work exceeds 32 hours in a standard work week. The bill would allow for a 3-year phase-in.

    The bill currently has seven co-sponsors and has been endorsed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), National Employment Law Project (NELP), Economic Policy Institute (EPI), American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Auto Workers (UAW), and United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW).

  • In March 2024, Senators Bernie Sanders and Laphonza Butler, introduced the Thirty Two Hour Work Week Act that would implement the 4-day, 32-hour workweek by lowering the threshold for overtime from 40 to 32 hours. The bill would also safeguard working people’s net pay, so businesses cannot lower compensation in response.

State Policy Developments

At the state level, numerous bills have been proposed but none have ultimately passed yet. The legislation broadly falls into two categories:

  1. Pilot Bills: Legislation that funds or incentivizes state-administered pilot or research programs

  2. Directive Bills: Legislation that implements the 4-day workweek by lowering the threshold for overtime from 40 to 32 hours, with no reduction in pay.

States that have proposed pilot bills:

  • Current Bill(s):

    • NA

    History

    In 2022, Rep. Evan Low introduced AB-2392 which was a directive bill. After intense opposition from CA businesses, the bill was killed. Low then tried again in 2023 and introduced AB-1100, which would require a report to be completed that evaluates how the 4-day workweek could be implemented for state employees. The bill died in committee. (Public Employment and Retirement).

    Sources: https://calmatters.org/economy/2023/04/four-day-work-week/

  • Current Bill(s):

    • SB2665 Creates a task force to evaluate how the 4-day, 32-hour workweek could be implemented for state workers

      • Introduced by: Senator Chris Lee

      • Most recent action: Referred to the following committees for evaluation on Jan 24, 2024

      • What can I do: Contact the committee members

    • HB856 Implements a condensed 4-day, 40-hour workweek for all state workers

      • Introduced by: Amato Pierick

      • Most recent action: Dec 23, 2023 Carried into 2024 session

      • What can I do: Contact your representatives

      • Other relevant info

        • Agency operating hours would remain the same

        • Would allow workers to keep an 8-hour Monday - Friday schedule with 1 work from home day

    History

    A Four Day Work Week bill has been introduced in the Hawaii Senate for the last three years for the creation of a task force to assess the impact of a four-day and flexible work week would have on government employees. In 2022 and 2023 “Concurrent Resolutions” (meaning, house and senate concurred they should have this conversation, not making any requirements) were introduced requesting the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations create this task force. This was heard in 2022 with opposition from the Department and statements of support of the idea, but assertions of the need for collective bargaining to determine any implementation from two relevant unions.

  • Current Bill(s):

    • NA

    History

    In 2023, Rep. Vaughn Stewart introduced HB0181, which would establish a pilot program and incentivize companies through tax credits.

  • Current Bill(s):

States that have proposed directive bills:

These bills often include an exemption for small businesses and would only apply to businesses with a minimum of 500 employees.

  • Current Bill(s):

    • NA

    • What can I do: Contact your representatives

    History

    In 2020, Senator Joe Nguyen introduced SB 6516 which would reduce the threshold for overtime from 40 to 32 hours. The bill was referred to the committee on Labor & Commerce, but ultimately did not pass.

  • Current Bill(s):

    • NA

      • What can I do: Contact your representatives!

    History

    In December 2023, Rep. Ellen Read and Rep. Eric Gallager introduced HB 1668. The bill would have lowered the threshold for overtime from 40 to 32 hours and prevent employers from reducing pay. The bill was killed in committee in February 2024.

  • Current Bill(s):

  • Current Bill(s):

    • NA

    • What can I do: Contact your representatives

    History and Additional Info

    New York City has started a pilot program for city workers that implements a condensed 4-day workweek (4, 10-hour days.) In 2021, Rep. Ken Burgos introduced a bill that would have implemented the 32-hour workweek for all businesses with over 500 employees.

  • Current Bill(s):

    • NA

      • What can I do: Contact your representatives

    History

    In 2023, a pilot bill was introduced by Rep. Dave Madsen, but it ultimately did not pass. The bill would have incentivized employers to try the 4-day workweek by providing tax credits. Rep. Roni Green has said she will propose a mandate bill in 2024.

  • Current Bill(s):

    History

    This is the first bill in Vermont relating to the 4-day workweek. It would lower the threshold for overtime from 40 to 32 hours, but does not require employers to maintain the same level of pay.

State agencies that have provided funding for 4-day workweek pilots:

Local Policy Developments

At the local level, governments have mostly focused on shifting their public sector workforce to a 4-day workweek. There also have been over 650 school districts in 24 states that have shifted to a 4-day workweek, primarily to respond to teacher shortages.

Localities implementing a 4-day, 32-hour workweek for public sector employees: 

Localities implementing a 4-day, 36-hour workweek for public sector employees: 

Localities offering a condensed 40-hour, 4-day workweek for public sector employees: