Californians are still working five days a week for the near future. A California bill that would require businesses to pay overtime to their employees who work more than 32 hours a week, which is about four days a week, has been shelved for now
The new bill would apply to companies that employ at least 500 people, with unionized workforces exempt. For those employees who would work longer for 32 hours a week, they would be compensated under the new law at the rate of no less than 1.5 times the employee’s regular rate of play.
Some employers have already tested out the four-day week. They say that it leads to an increase in not only productivity but also profits.
Employers against the measure worry it will lead to employees feeling more stressed out, or that they are letting teammates down somehow, but advocates for the bill say that this sense of guilt is likely being put on employees by the employer themself.
Iceland tested a shorter workweek at 35 hours, and studies showed it was an “overwhelming success.”
Microsoft trialed the four-day workweek in its Japan offices in 2019, and also said it was successful. Productivity went up by almost 40 percent, a huge amount. This was measured by sales per employee compared to the same period the year prior.
Studies show that the U.S. ranks among the top countries in hours worked per year.
Americans also spend less time than others worldwide, including people in other developed nations especially, on their own personal care and leisure.
Legislators in California need more time to ponder the new bill. They said that the bill will be shelved for now, and instead, be reviewed next session.
Advocates for the bill remain hopeful that when the bill is reviewed next, it will progress.
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