Bernie Sanders Backs Bill for 32-Hour Workweek
Senator Bernie Sanders is co-sponsoring legislation to reduce the standard workweek for nonexempt employees from 40 to 32 hours. The proposal aims to ensure workers benefit from technological gains and increased productivity.
United States lawmakers backed a new bill on Friday afternoon to cut the standard workweek to 32 hours for millions of employees. The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act amends federal labor standards to require overtime pay for nonexempt hours worked beyond the new threshold. Proponents argue the shift forces labor laws to reflect decades of surging worker productivity.
The proposal mirrors legislation first introduced in 2021 by Rep. Mark Takano, which aims to curb excess hours without reducing employee pay or benefits. Proponents point to federal data showing worker productivity climbed 93.2% since 1979 while wages grew just 33.7%.
