California may be one step closer to passing its 32-hour workweek legislation for companies of 500 or more employees.
The policy will need to overcome opposition from the California Chamber of Commerce and other organizations. This week, the state’s Labor and Employment Committee will decide whether the policy will move forward.
“The fact that it’s getting a lot of attention, and that it’s getting closer to potentially passing, speaks to the momentum around companies thinking differently about what work looks like,” said Brian Kropp, group VP and chief of HR research at Gartner.
California is not the first to test the waters with a four-day workweek — a Gartner survey shows that the number of companies adopting this shorter work schedule grew to 15% as of march.
While this is still a relatively small figure, Kropp believes that the popularity of this arrangement will continue to grow in demand and with that, gain traction in popularity.
Other states have also introduced their own legislation for 32-hour workweeks, including Massachusetts and Vermont. If California passes this law, it could have a ripple effect across the entire country.
Shorter workweeks aren’t just limited to four days, either. Some companies are testing out giving every other Friday off and even a “work-when-you-want” strategy.
