I remember asking about this over 20 years on the old MOTU forum on MSNBC.
This is not meant to be a political question. I am mainly thinking about technology and progress.
https://news.yahoo.com/proposed-bill-shorten-california-workweek-224735813.html
A proposed bill winding its way through the state Legislature could make California the first state in the nation to reduce its workweek to four days for a large swath of workers.
The bill, AB 2932, would change the definition of a workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours for companies with more than 500 employees. A full workday would remain at eight hours, and employers would be required to provide overtime pay for employees working longer than four full days.
The bill was authored by Assembly Members Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) and Evan Low (D-San Jose). At the federal level, a bill by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) is pushing for similar changes under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Reached by phone Friday, Garcia said the idea was prompted in part by the exodus of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of whom were seeking a better quality of life. More than 47 million Americans voluntarily quit their jobs in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"We've had a five-day workweek since the Industrial Revolution," Garcia said, "but we've had a lot of progress in society, and we've had a lot of advancements. I think the pandemic right now allows us the opportunity to rethink things, to reimagine things."
Garcia and other proponents say a four-day workweek would lead to an increase in productivity and profits, and point to case studies already underway in Iceland and at companies such as Kickstarter. (The Times' editorial board in September argued that the concept was worth a try.)
Opponents say a four-day workweek would stunt job growth in the state and could create untenable conditions for employers. The California Chamber of Commerce included the bill on its "job killer" list, writing that it would significantly increase labor costs, expose employers to litigation and impose requirements that are "impossible to comply with."
Here's what you need to know about this potentially monumental change:
More here: https://news.yahoo.com/proposed-bill-shorten-california-workweek-224735813.html
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