Full Breakdown
Congress Introduces the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act
By Drooid · · How we work
Proposal Overview
The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, unveiled this week by independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democratic Representative Mark Takano of California, would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to lower the overtime threshold from the current 40 hours to 32 hours. The bill phases the change over four years—38 hours in the first year, 36 in the second, 34 in the third, and 32 in the fourth. Once fully implemented, an employee working a 40-hour week would earn overtime for eight hours instead of only after the 40th hour. The legislation also introduces daily overtime rules, requiring time-and-a-half pay after eight hours in a day and double pay after twelve hours. Employers would be barred from cutting an employee’s weekly compensation or benefits solely because the standard workweek is shortened. The act does not mandate a specific work schedule (e.g., a four-day week) and retains existing exemptions for certain executive, administrative, and professional workers.
Legislative History and Prior Experiments
Representative Takano first introduced a 32-hour workweek bill in 2021 and a revised version in 2023. In 2024, Senator Sanders presented Senate legislation after the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on the issue. Historical context includes the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act, which originally set overtime at 44 hours, later reduced to 42 and then 40 hours. State- and local-level pilots have offered mixed results. Maryland lawmakers considered a voluntary four-day-week pilot with tax incentives in 2023 but withdrew the measure. In Washington state, San Juan County shifted much of its workforce to a 32-hour week in 2023 and announced in late 2025 that the model would become permanent, citing lower sick-leave use, more job applications, and estimated cost savings while noting scheduling challenges for public-facing services. The United Kingdom’s 2022 voluntary trial involving 61 organizations and roughly 2,900 workers reported a 65 % reduction in sick days and a 57 % drop in staff departures, though it did not lead to new national legislation.
Expected Impact and Rationale
Proponents argue that advances in artificial intelligence and automation enable higher productivity, allowing workers to share gains through reduced hours. Senator Sanders has emphasized that technology should improve workers’ lives rather than solely increase corporate profits. Supporters contend that a shorter week could lower stress, improve quality of life, and distribute economic benefits more equitably.
Support and Opposition
Opponents warn that maintaining pay while shortening hours could raise labor costs. During the 2024 Senate hearing, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy argued that employers might respond by raising prices, curbing hiring, or relocating jobs. These concerns reflect broader debates about the bill’s potential effects on employment, pricing, and competitiveness.
