Legislators are considering a bill that would shorten the standard workweek to 32 hours, The Hill reported March 17.
Here are seven things dental leaders should know:
1. The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act was reintroduced March 1 by House Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif.
2. If passed, the bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act by reducing the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours for non-exempt employees.
3. Under the bill, employers would be required to pay overtime compensation to nonexempt employees whose workweek exceeds 32 hours.
4. Those who would be most impacted by the change include nonexempt, hourly employees, but some salaried workers would also be affected.
5. The bill has been endorsed by several organizations, including the National Employment Law Project, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and the Economic Policy Institute.
6. The bill was originally introduced in July 2021 but did not make it passed the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
7. Advocates say four-day workweeks could result in quality-of-life improvements for employees without sacrificing productivity.