Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act introduced in U.S. Congress

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Mark Takano have introduced the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act in Congress. The legislation proposes a gradual reduction of the federal overtime threshold from 40 hours to 32 hours per week.

Under the proposed plan, the threshold would decrease incrementally: 38 hours in the first year, 36 in the second, 34 in the third, and finally reaching 32 hours in the fourth year. The act also includes provisions to prevent employers from reducing workers' regular pay or benefits in response to the change in hours.

Proponents argue the shift is necessary to ensure the economic benefits of artificial intelligence and robotics are shared with working families. While the 40-hour week is the current standard for overtime eligibility, Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates that average private-sector workweeks have already trended downward, reaching an average of 34.2 hours in 2024.