Senator Bernie Sanders unveils 32 hour workweek plan in US, cites better productivity among workers

Senator Bernie Sanders announced on Wednesday that he would introduce a bill to establish a four-day workweek in the US without causing any loss of pay.

The bill, over a four-year period, would decrease the threshold needed for overtime pay – from 40 hours to 32 hours. It would need overtime pay at a rate of 1.5 times a worker’s regular salary for workdays longer than eight hours, and overtime pay at double a worker’s regular salary for workdays longer than 12 hours, The Hill reported.

The 32-hour workweek Act would also protect workers’ pay and benefits to make sure there is no loss in pay, according to a press release.

“Moving to a 32-hour workweek with no loss of pay is not a radical idea,” Sanders said in the release.

“Today, American workers are over 400 per cent more productive than they were in the 1940s. And yet, millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages than they were decades ago. That has got to change. The financial gains from the major advancements in artificial intelligence, automation, and new technology must benefit the working class, not just corporate CEOs and wealthy stockholders on Wall Street. It is time to reduce the stress level in our country and allow Americans to enjoy a better quality of life. It is time for a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay,” he added.

Bernie Sanders introduced the legislation with Senator Laphonza Butler and Republican Mark Takano introduced as companion legislation in the House.

“The Thirty-Two-Hour Workweek Act would allow hardworking Americans to spend more time with their families while protecting their wages and making sure profits aren’t only going to a select few,” Republican Takano said in a statement, describing the bill as “transformative legislation that will be a win for both workers and workplaces”.

Sanders, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, introduced the 32-hour workweek legislation, ahead of his committee’s hearing on Thursday on the same topic. The committee will hear from United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, among other witnesses.

While announcing, Sanders mentioned multiple pilot programmes and studies that show productivity improving with a four-day workweek. The studies majorly found that workers were more productive and less likely to get burned out as they were happier.

Senator Bernie Sanders also pointed to other nations that have already made the move towards shortening workweeks, including France’s existing 35-hour workweek and consideration to a 32-week one, and Norway and Denmark’s nearly 37-hour workweek.