Earlier this month, Rep. Mark Takano of California reintroduced the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act into Congress, returning the idea of a four-day week to the minds of our lawmakers and the American public. Takano first introduced the bill proposing a 32-hour week in July 2021, but the bill did not advance past introduction. 

The reintroduction comes on the heels of a six-month trial of the four-day week in Britain. It was conducted with 61 companies — most of which are maintaining the shortened work week moving forward.

“So what all the studies and the pilots show is that there is no one who is worse off,” said Robert Bruno, director of the Labor Studies Program at the University. “The employer finds that there’s no loss of productivity, no loss of worker effort. The companies are just as profitable, just as competitive, probably even more efficient.” 

On top of the commercial benefits, Bruno also highlighted the mental and social aspects of a shorter work week.

“If there’s fewer days (employees) have to be at work, then they get some time back, they get a better balance, there’s a real improvement in mental health,” he said. “They’re also in a better position to strengthen their family relationship. So they’d be more attentive to children, to loved ones. They can invest a bit more time (in) activities that bring great joy to them.”

Though Bruno had numerous positives to say about the bill, the passing of it into law is far from a sure thing; rather, it’s an “uphill battle,” as Bruno puts it. 

“I feel like it could be too decisive,” said Martina Lepicki, sophomore in FAA, when reflecting on why the bill may not pass. “Especially when a lot of states have been repealing a lot of work protections.”

Lepicki referenced Arkansas’ Youth Hiring Act of 2023 which loosened the state’s child labor laws as of March 6. Bills expanding the amount of and type of work that 14- and 15-year-olds can do have appeared in other states including Iowa and Ohio. 

“I think it’s two things,” Bruno said on why there is opposition to the shortened week.

“It’s the inertia,” Bruno said about a reluctance to change. “And then it’s the sense that the employer has that there’s some loss of control over the workforce.”

The inertia Bruno described is the fact that five-day weeks have been the legal standard since the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and “it takes a little bit of effort when you first make the change.” 

“It’s just easier to just do what you’ve always done,” Bruno added.

Bruno also referenced the amount of time employees get back in their lives from the employers. 

“Because it provides a better balance with their non-work responsibilities, workers report having greater control over their time,” Bruno said.

As of now, Bruno said that much of our time is being “consumed by getting the work, being at work, thinking about what you have to do after work.” 

Though the passing of the four-day week in Congress may be unlikely, Bruno is optimistic because “one of the greatest scarcities in the lives of people is time, and (employees) feel like they just don’t have much of it.”

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