Pennsylvania lawmaker to introduce 4-day workweek bill with no pay reduction

Employees at many Pennsylvania companies may very well be a four-day workweek, as a state legislator says she’s going to introduce a invoice to shorten the workweek with out lowering employee’s pay.

Democratic Rep. G. Roni Inexperienced, who serves part of Philadelphia County, says that she’s going to “quickly” introduce laws requiring companies with greater than 500 staff to scale back their work hours from 40 hours per week to 32 hours per week with out lowering worker pay.

This laws would exclude small and mid-size firms, Inexperienced stated in a memorandum posted Aug. 15.

The 40-hour workweek was first established in 1938, which Inexperienced says not matches societal wants.

“In the present day, most staff proceed to work an ordinary 40-hour workweek, however society seems to be and operates otherwise than it as soon as did in 1938,” Inexperienced argued. “Technological development alone have considerably elevated the productiveness of staff permitting extra work to be completed in much less time.”

The democratic lawmakers argued that analysis has proven that firms have been in a position to undertake a shorter workweek with out compromising productiveness.

Based on the research by analysis nonprofit 4 Day Week Global, 41 firms examined the four-day week mannequin in the USA and Canada, and staff reported that they skilled much less stress and burnout after six months of that shortened schedule.

“Employees should have a weekly schedule that respects a stability of labor and private tasks,” Inexperienced stated.

“A four-day workweek would supply hardworking people with extra time for relaxation, household obligations, and give attention to each bodily and psychological well being,” Inexperienced continued. “Rested, comfortable and wholesome staff in flip can higher give attention to work and achieve extra in a workday.”

This isn’t the primary legislature who’s tried their hat at shaving down the workweek. 

This Could, a invoice sponsored by representatives in Dauphin, Chester and Lehigh counties proposed an analogous invoice with added incentivization for firms to start out a four-day workweek. 

The legislatures hope to incentivize bigger firms, saying that they’d be eligible for a state revenue tax credit score. 

House Bill 1065 was not voted on by Pennsylvania’s Home of Representatives, however referred to the state’s labor and business committee.