Sanders and Takano reintroduce 32-hour workweek bill

Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Mark Takano have reintroduced federal legislation aimed at amending the Fair Labor Standards Act to reduce the standard workweek for nonexempt employees from 40 to 32 hours.

The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act proposes a gradual four-year phase-in. The overtime threshold would decrease annually from 40 hours to 38, 36, 34, and finally 32 hours. Under the proposal, overtime pay would be required for hours worked beyond 32 in a week, as well as for work exceeding eight hours in a single day. Hours worked beyond 12 in a day would require double pay.

Supporters, including several labor unions, argue the change would allow workers to benefit from economic gains driven by automation and artificial intelligence without losing pay or benefits. Opponents, such as the Club for Growth, argue the measure could lead to job losses and decreased affordability. The bill does not mandate a four-day workweek; employers could still schedule 40-hour weeks provided they pay the required overtime. The legislation has not been enacted and faces a difficult path to passage in a Republican-controlled Congress.