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Senator Proposes Voluntary Four‑Day Workweek Pilot to Study Productivity and Well‑Being
Summary
Senator Dylan Fernandez asked the committee to back a voluntary pilot program to test four‑day workweeks in Massachusetts, citing research showing productivity gains and improved worker well‑being in other pilots and countries.
Senator Dylan Fernandez urged the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to consider a voluntary, research‑driven pilot of four‑day workweeks in Massachusetts, saying evidence from other pilots shows benefits for employees and employers.
"The data is really clear that moving to a four‑day work week . . . helps employees reduce stress, gets them better sleep, [and] shows higher levels of happiness," Fernandez told the committee. He said international pilots reported no loss of productivity and, in many cases, productivity gains.
Fernandez said the bill (S130?) would authorize a voluntary pilot, evaluated by local research centers, to test whether four‑day schedules are feasible in Massachusetts industries. He framed the proposal as a measured, evidence‑based step that would allow employers to opt in and researchers to study recruitment, retention, absenteeism and productivity outcomes.
The senator noted pandemic work changes that showed remote and flexible schedules did not necessarily reduce output and said the state should study a policy that could improve workers' mental health and talent retention. Committee members did not take action during the hearing; Fernandez asked that the pilot be studied with appropriate academic partners before wider policy decisions.
Ending: Fernandez urged a cautious, volunteer pilot to gather Massachusetts‑specific evidence about four‑day schedules and their effects on workers and employers before wider policy adoption.
