This is nice, but I find it disappointing that they didn't offer 4x8 32 hour weeks, when the company's culture seems to have already been set up for it. They could have let people opt in to reduced pay.
It is very difficult to argue for hiring someone that is not 40 hours. HR and management thinks in terms of full time (40) or part time (<30). The 30-39 hour schedules seem to be used to keep someone they really don't want to lose and not offered to new people. I have seen it with people getting close to retirement and people caring for someone sick or small.