The Maryland General Assembly is considering legislation that would make the Free State the first in the nation to give employers tax incentives to give their employees more free time.
The proposal would offer employers with 30 or more employees tax incentives if they tested a four-day workweek schedule and allowed the state Department of Labor to research the impact of the change through employee surveys, interviews and “other information gathering.” To be eligible, an employer must permit at least 30 employees to make the change from five-day to four-day workweeks.
Participating employers would receive a tax credit against their Maryland state income tax. To receive the credit, the employer must participate in the program for at least one year and submit a report to the state detailing its transition to a four-day workweek.
If passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Moore, the program would remain in effect for five years. Tax credits would be capped at $750,000 each year, and the Maryland Department of Labor would be responsible for determining the amount of the tax credit each participating employer receives.