NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7874
SPONSOR: Raga TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to the number of hours which
constitute a work week
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to reduce the standard workweek to thirty-
two hours while prohibiting pay cuts and maintaining overtime pay, grad-
ually implementing this reduction over three years.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the labor law to define a legal workweek as thirty-
eight hours for all employees. Employees working more than eight hours
in a day must be paid at least one and a half times their regular wage
rate, while those working more than twelve hours must receive at least
twice their regular wage rate for the additional hours.
Section two amends the labor law to reduce the legal workweek to thir-
ty-six hours.
Section three amends the labor law to reduce the legal workweek as thir-
ty-four hours.
Section four amends the labor law to reduce the legal workweek as thir-
ty-two hours..
Section five sets the effective dates, reducing the legal workweek from
forty to thirty-two hours over three years starting 180 days after
becoming law.
JUSTIFICATION:
Research consistently shows that a four-day workweek improves employee
well-being, productivity, and job satisfaction while reducing stress,
burnout, turnover, and absenteeism. Businesses that have adopted this
model report higher work quality and morale, with employees feeling more
engaged and fulfilled in their roles.
A four-day workweek also promotes a more equitable workforce. By reduc-
ing the standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours without cutting pay, it
makes full-time employment more accessible, particularly for caregivers,
parents, and those balancing multiple responsibilities. Women, who make
up 72% of working parents and 90% of primary caregivers for older adults
and people with disabilities, often face the greatest challenges in
managing work and caregiving. A shorter workweek provides much-needed
flexibility, allowing more people to stay in the workforce without
sacrificing personal or family obligations.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New legislation.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately, with section one taking effect
after 180 days, section two after one year, section three after two
years, and section four after three years.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7874
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 11, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RAGA -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to the number of hours which
constitute a work week
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 160-a to
2 read as follows:
3 § 160-a. Hours to constitute a week's work. 1. Notwithstanding any
4 other provision of law to the contrary, for all employees thirty-eight
5 hours shall constitute a legal week's work.
6 2. Where an employee works more than:
7 (a) eight hours in a single workday, they shall receive compensation
8 for overtime work at a rate which is at least one and one-half times the
9 employee's normal wage rate.
10 (b) twelve hours in a single workday, they shall receive compensation
11 for overtime work beyond twelve hours for such workday at a rate which
12 is at least two times the employee's normal wage rate.
13 § 2. Subdivision 1 of section 160-a of the labor law, as added by
14 section one of this act, is amended to read as follows:
15 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, for all
16 employees [thirty-eight] thirty-six hours shall constitute a legal
17 week's work.
18 § 3. Subdivision 1 of section 160-a of the labor law, as amended by
19 section two of this act, is amended to read as follows:
20 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, for all
21 employees [thirty-six] thirty-four hours shall constitute a legal week's
22 work.
23 § 4. Subdivision 1 of section 160-a of the labor law, as amended by
24 section three of this act, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11237-01-5
A. 7874 2
1 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, for all
2 employees [thirty-four] thirty-two hours shall constitute a legal week's
3 work.
4 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however,
5 section one of this act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth
6 day after it shall have become a law; provided further, however, section
7 two of this act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
8 law; provided further, however, section three of this act shall take
9 effect two years after it shall have become a law; and provided further,
10 however, section four of this act shall take effect three years after it
11 shall have become a law.
