A Four Day Work Week in PA? All About the New Proposal

If you live in PA and work at a large company, you could be getting yourself a nice little shorter work week! 😎🗓️ You'll get even *more* time for those Target runs! You'll also get a bonus day of existential dread before you have to head into the office! #SundayScaries 👹

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We kid…sort of. 🤭 Anyway, here's the tea on what state representatives have up their sleeves for working Pennsylvanians. ☕

 

Here’s Five Fast Facts on the four-day work week proposal:

  1. 📆 Less Is More - Philly-based State Rep. G. Roni Green recently proposed legislation that would cut the workweek down from 40 hours per week to 32 without a pay reduction. The legislation would only apply to businesses with over 500 employees and doesn't include local or mid-size businesses.
  1. 🧑‍✈️ Pilot Plans - State Rep. Dave Madsen introduced a bill earlier this year to start a four-day workweek pilot program in 70 PA businesses. Any participating employer would also be eligible for a state income tax credit.
  1. 🤸 It's Good For You - Those in favor of the four-day work week point to studies showing it "reduces employee stress, burnout, and fatigue." It's also great for mental and physical health and fosters a better work-life balance. Thanks, captain obvious!

  2. ⏲️ Clocking In - In the second half of 2022, the UK did a four-day work week trial program. 61 companies participated in the program and worked an average of 34 hours a week while still earning the same pay.
  1. 🧑‍💼 I Don't Wanna Work - The results of the UK pilot program revealed that 92% of the participating companies voted to keep up with the four-day work week. Results also showed the shorter week led to improvements in wellbeing and a decrease in employees wanting to quit their jobs. 

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🔥Bottom line: Note that this new shorter work week doesn't apply to "local and mid-sized" businesses, which means a ton of workers won't benefit. You know, because someone has to be around to serve coffee and scones to the four-day work weekers on their free Friday! Although it's a nice concept for office workers, there's a TON of other hard working Pennsylvanians who also deserve this kind of break. Is your boss telling you a raise just "isn't in the budget"? Here's how to deal.

What would you do with an extra day off?

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