A new legislative proposal in Congress seeks to transition the United States towards a 32-hour standard workweek. Introduced by independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democratic Representative Mark Takano of California, this act envisions sharing productivity gains from artificial intelligence and automation with workers.
Details of the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act
The proposed act would gradually reduce the overtime pay threshold for many employees from 40 hours to 32 hours per week. This change aims to prevent employers from lowering workers’ pay or benefits as their standard hours decrease. However, the bill wouldn’t mandate a specific work schedule, such as a Monday-to-Thursday setup.
An Overview of the Potential Impact
Currently, federal law mandates that workers covered by overtime protections receive at least one-and-a-half times their normal rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. The new legislation would change this incrementally, lowering the threshold to 38 hours the first year, then to 36 and 34 hours, before reaching 32 hours.
While employers could still ask employees to work beyond the standard hours, eligible employees working 40 hours would receive eight hours of overtime once fully implemented. The proposal also introduces daily overtime requirements, providing time-and-a-half after eight hours and double-time after 12 hours of work.
Importantly, the legislation protects against reducing compensation or benefits due to a shortened workweek. However, it does not guarantee three days off weekly, nor does it uniformly apply to all workers. Exemptions for specific employee categories, such as executive and administrative roles, remain.
Moving Toward a Four-Day Workweek
The concept has surfaced in Congress several times. Takano previously introduced similar bills in 2021 and 2023, with Sanders following suit in 2024. Historical context is noted when Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938, initially setting the overtime threshold at 44 hours before lowering it to the current 40-hour standard.
Smaller state-level experiments have taken place, including a withdrawn Maryland proposal for a voluntary four-day workweek pilot. In Washington state’s San Juan County, successful pilot results led to widespread implementation of a 32-hour week in 2025, reporting benefits like reduced sick leave and increased job applications.
In 2022, a voluntary trial in the United Kingdom involving 61 organizations and 2,900 workers tested a 20% reduction in working time. Results showed a 65% decrease in sick days and a 57% drop in staff departures, although it did not lead to legislative changes.
Arguments and Opposition
Proponents assert that technological advancements allow businesses to produce more with less human labor, arguing that employees should gain more personal time. Sanders emphasized that AI and automation should enhance workers’ lives rather than boost corporate profits. He highlighted the disparity of wealth distribution over the past 50 years.
Conversely, opponents warn of increased labor costs if the standard workweek is shortened while maintaining pay. During a Senate hearing in 2024, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy cautioned that employers might counter by raising prices, reducing hiring, or relocating jobs.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Sam Wilson.