Late last month, California Rep. Mark Takano introduced legislation that would help make the four-day workweek a reality for many US workers. Takano’s bill would lower the maximum threshold for overtime pay, effectively reducing the number of hours in a standard week from 40 to 32. “Many countries and businesses that have experimented with a four-day workweek found it to be an overwhelming success as productivity grew and wages increased,” Takano said, adding that the reductions could also lead to lower operational costs for business owners as well as better healthcare premiums. Jane Oats, who worked for the US Labor Department during the Obama years and the current president of WorkingNation, says the four-day workweek is a necessary evolution in our culture. “Spending more time with family, volunteering in your community, and just practicing healthier lifestyles are all higher priorities after a year of isolation during the pandemic,” she said. “It will also allow workers to use the time to further their education so that they can increase their opportunities for higher-skilled jobs.”