Massachusetts 3 Day Work Week Could Be Amazing

Massachusetts lawmakers have been kicking around the idea of creating a 4-day work week.  The bill is called the Massachusetts Smart Work Week Pilot, and it says that four-day work week employees would receive a meaningful reduction in actual work hours without any reduction in overall pay.

It is designed to begin a trial run of what life might be like for both workers and employers if a 4-day work week was actually implemented here in Massachusetts.

Overall, the bill aims to explore the potential benefits of a reduced workweek for both employees and businesses in Massachusetts.  It would give employers a chance to opt into the pilot program in exchange for an attractive tax credit.

The impacts of the 4-day work week would then be studied over the course of two years using data from interviews, surveys, and financial records.

As sweet as the 4-day work week sounds, I'm skeptical that it can be pulled off without hurting local businesses, and subsequently, jobs.  My proposal would be a little different.

Michael Rock's Four Day Workweek Proposal for Massachusetts

If it were up to me, I'd be willing to work 10 hours a day/4 days a week.  This would result in no loss of production from each employee, while everyone still makes the same amount of money.

Heck, I pretty much work a 10 hour day already.  This would be a big improvement in my life.

Massachusetts Three Day Work Week

If my company let me, I'd even go as far as working three 12-hour shifts a week.  Now, I know this wouldn't be for everyone, but I think I'd personally thrive in that world.  To me, this would instantly put "life" at the advantage in the work/life balance game.  You'd have more days off than work days.  That's what I'm talking about.

Given the choice, would you rather work Monday, Wednesday, Friday?  Or Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.  If we were talking about an 8 hour day, I'd probably choose Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.  That would be working three days to get to a four day weekend.  Basically, that's like every weekend being like Thanksgiving Weekend.  I'm all about that.

However, under my 12 hour per workday plan that might be rough to pull off three 12 hour days in a row.