Massachusetts Adopting a 4 Day Work Week Gains Steam – Here’s the Latest!
Massachusetts residents may soon be working less or making more, if a bill proposing a four day work week in Massachusetts passes. The “Massachusetts Smart Work Week Pilot” would see employees receiving a reduction in work hours without losing out on pay. The bill would make employers pay overtime at a rate of 1.5 times a person’s salary once they pass 32 hours, instead of 40.
What’s in the Massachusetts Smart Work Week for employers?
While the proposed bill is focused on mental health and preventing burnout of employees while enhancing their work/life balance, there is an upside to employers as well, in the form of tax credits to employers who participate and report their findings. This way experts can study the impact of the program and gauge it’s effectiveness.
So what’s the next step in making this a reality?
There was a hearing on Tuesday at noon on Beacon Hill before the Labor and Workforce Development Committee where the bill was discussed. How discussions went and how the bill was received is yet to be determined so stay tuned.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Josh Cutler, said a six month research trial with Boston College and companies in the UK showed that four-day work week models have the potential to reduce burnout and boost performance among workers without affecting employer productivity. At the end of the 6 month trial period none of the 61 companies involved in the trial said they would go back to a five day work week. Very interesting.
If the shorter work week goes through in Massachusetts that would free up a little extra time for all of us… which would hopefully give us a little time to CLEAN MASSACHUSETTS UP! Mr. Rooter just put together a study which determined the neatest and messiest states in the nation and Mass finished at the dirtiest sounding number there is.
The Messiest States: Massachusetts is Dirty at No. 2
