State Bill Proposes Shorter Work Week

A bill in California has been introduced that would shorten the work week from the standard forty hours to 32 hours for workers. If passed, this bill has the potential to affect millions of employees that work throughout the state, both in the hours worked and how they are compensated. If you have an issue at work that requires skilled legal advice, call or contact an experienced California employment law attorney in your area today.

New State Bill

The new state bill, AB 2932, was introduced by Representative Mark Takano from the 41st District in Riverside. The bill proposes altering the definition of a workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours. The purpose of the bill is to improve the quality of life of workers and increase productivity at work. Under the proposed bill, any hours worked over 32 in a standard workweek would be compensated as overtime work and paid at one and a half times the average weekly wage. This new law would apply to employers that have 500 or more employees in California.

Rationale for the Bill

According to a press statement from the Representative’s office, “The 32-hour Workweek Act is exactly what our country needs after losing more than 900,000 lives to COVID. People are overworked, underpaid, and they need to reset their work-life balance.” The bill already has traction in the legislation, although some have cited that the effectiveness of the bill would depend on whether a person could get by on 32 hours of weekly wages.

A California law professor likened the new bill to the labor revolution that happened nearly 100 years ago in the United States that introduced the 40 hour work week to America. The 40 hour work week was a response to laborers who were demanding better working hours and conditions. With the Great Resignation and millions rethinking what it means to have a work/life balance, the conditions are similar and rife for rethinking what a workweek means today.

Impacts on Employees

There are a couple of ways that, if passed, the new bill could affect employees in California. Some employers may choose to pay overtime hours to their current employees in order to maintain a 40-hour workweek. Other employers may hire additional workers in order to avoid paying their employees overtime for more than 32 hours of work. It is also important to note that this new bill only affects hourly workers, and employees who are salaried would not be impacted by the new law. If you are interested in learning more about how this bill could affect you, talk to a lawyer today.

Call or Contact an Attorney

The laws protecting workers in California are constantly evolving, and if you think that your employer is violating your rights in the workplace you may have a claim for compensation. To learn more about your legal options, call the office or contact an experienced California employment law attorney in your area today.