WASHINGTON D.C., (WTVB) – A newly reintroduced federal bill aims to permanently shorten the American workweek, proposing a gradual reduction from 40 hours to 32 hours over the next four years.
Sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Mark Takano , the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act seeks to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to mandate overtime compensation—at time-and-a-half—for any hours worked past the 32-hour threshold.
Crucially, the legislation includes strict pay protections that prohibit employers from cutting worker salaries or benefits to compensate for the shortened schedule.
Advocates argue that massive leaps in corporate productivity, artificial intelligence, and automation should directly benefit the quality of life for the working class rather than solely enriching stockholders.
However, the proposal faces steep uphill battles and heavy resistance from critics who warn that an artificial labor squeeze could trigger severe staffing shortages, spike operational expenses, and increase consumer costs.
Despite the momentum behind a four-day workweek, political analysts note that the bill’s legislative odds remain slim in a divided Congress.
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