A new proposal in Congress aims to shift the United States toward a 32-hour workweek, fueled by productivity gains associated with artificial intelligence and automation. The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, recently introduced by independent Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont and Democratic Representative Mark Takano of California, seeks to gradually reduce the standard work hours that trigger overtime pay from the current 40 hours each week to 32.
This legislative change would make it more expensive for employers to routinely require an extended workweek, thus encouraging them to adapt to the new norms. Unlike dictating a Monday-to-Thursday schedule, this bill modifies federal overtime laws to require one-and-a-half times the regular pay when workers exceed specified hours. Initially, overtime pay would be mandated for work beyond 38 hours in the first year, moving to 36 and then 34 hours in subsequent years until reaching 32 hours.
Although not all workers are eligible under this act, it specifies that compensation or benefits cannot be reduced if the workweek is shortened. As a result, employees working 40 hours in a week would receive overtime pay for those additional eight hours once the threshold shifts. On a day-to-day basis, employees would earn time-and-a-half beyond eight hours and double the regular rate past 12 hours.
This bill does not mandate specific workdays for employees, allowing flexibility within businesses to accommodate varied schedules without enforcing a strict four-day format. It amends the Fair Labor Standards Act, which already exempts certain executive, administrative, and professional roles from overtime provisions.
Push for a Four-Day Workweek
Takano has introduced similar 32-hour workweek bills several times over the years, including ones in 2021 and 2023. Sanders followed with a Senate version in 2024, during which the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee evaluated the potential for a national shift toward fewer working hours.
The U.S. norm stabilized at a 40-hour workweek, following gradual reductions from 44 and then 42 hours. Maryland explored a voluntary pilot program in 2023 offering tax incentives for participating employers, but the proposal was withdrawn. San Juan County in Washington state made a permanent switch to a 32-hour week after testing the model and citing benefits like reduced sick leave and increased job applications.
International tests such as the United Kingdom’s 2022 trial involved 61 organizations and reported a 65 percent decrease in sick days and a 57 percent reduction in staff departures while maintaining salaries. Most companies involved planned to continue, yet the initiative did not translate into new labor laws.
Perspectives on the Bill
Proponents suggest technological advancements mean businesses can produce more efficiently, justifying shorter workweeks for employees. Sanders emphasizes that AI and automation should not solely enhance corporate profits but improve workers’ quality of life. He advocates for this change to help reduce stress and distribute wealth more equitably.
Conversely, opponents caution about potential rises in labor costs, warning of unintended consequences like increased prices, job reductions, or relocation of jobs. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy mentioned these concerns during a 2024 Senate hearing.