A U.S. state is taking the lead for effective change in the workplace.
CNN reports that several Maryland lawmakers want to subsidize employers who opt to be a part of a four-day workweek experiment — marking a national first-of-its-kind proposal.
Within the experiment, the selected employers would agree to a 32-hour workweek instead of a 40-hour week, but employees’ weekly pay will remain the same.
The outlet details that legislators in Maryland’s House and Senate is set to hold hearings on “a bill that would offer state tax credits to companies that take up that challenge.”
The proposal comes after the pandemic made for jobs to emplace work from home and hybrid work models.
“The pandemic has taught us that how we view work is not set in stone but it’s something that we as citizens can control,” said Maryland Delegate Vaughn Stewart, according to the outlet.
Along with being a Maryland delegate, Stewart is one of the bill’s lead sponsors.
He believes that the four-day workweek should involve blue-collar and white-collar employers, not exclusively corporate entities.
“We’re not trying to prescribe to companies how they do it,” he said. “It may be more advantageous to have different approaches.”
“We want Maryland employers to experience the same productivity and profit gains,” he added.
In order for Maryland employers to qualify to be subsidized, they’re required to participate in the program for “no less than one year and no more than two.” Additionally, data about the results would have to be shared with Maryland’s Department of Labor.
As of now, the bill has a cap of $750,000 a year for five years for the program participants’ credits. If there is a great interest in the program, Maryland’s Department of Labor will select which employers can participate.
