US Lawmakers Propose a Four-Day Workweek: What That Means for Employees

Bernie Sanders Advocates for a Revolutionary 32‑Hour Workweek

Why the Proposal Matters

The United States senator is championing a bold change: reducing the standard 40‑hour workweek to a 32‑hour schedule. His plan would grant workers an additional day off each weekend, potentially reshaping how Americans balance work and personal life.

Key Elements of the Bill

• Weekday Hours – Employees would work eight hours per day for four days.
• Extended Weekends – The new schedule frees up an entire extra day during weekends.
• Legal Framework – The legislation would establish new labor standards and protections for both workers and employers.

Potential Benefits Highlighted

Proponents argue the change could lead to:

• Improved mental and physical health.
• Greater productivity per hour.
• Reduced commuting costs and carbon footprints.

Challenges Ahead

Critics express concerns about:

• Impact on businesses that rely on a full eight‑hour workday.
• Need for adjustments in existing payroll and benefit systems.
• Ensuring equitable implementation across all sectors.

Next Steps in the Legislative Process

The bill now moves to committee review, with the possibility of amendments and debate before a Senate vote. Supporters are calling for a public forum to discuss the implications, while opponents urge a more cautious approach.

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U.S. Push for a Four‑Day Workweek Gains Momentum

The idea of trimming the traditional five‑day, 40‑hour schedule has become a hot topic in the United States, echoing a trend that began taking shape in Europe during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Repurposed from a long‑standing norm, the 40‑hour workweek is now facing scrutiny from members of Congress, many of whom are urging employers to grant workers an extra day off.

Bernie Sanders’ Proposed Bill

Last week, Senator Bernie Sanders—a former presidential nominee and independent from Vermont—introduced a piece of legislation that would reduce the weekly working hours to 32 hours before overtime becomes mandatory.

• Bill aims to ease the workload for hourly employees.
• Proposes retaining full pay and benefits.
• Recommends leveraging technology to maintain productivity.

Technology as a Catalyst

Sanders argues that modern tools—automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI)—provide businesses with the capacity to cut hours without compromising earnings or perks for staff.

Opposition Concerns

Critics warn that a mandated reduction could increase hiring costs or lead to a decline in efficiency, as companies might struggle to balance new schedules with existing workloads.

Context in Europe

Countries across Europe have begun experimenting with the four‑day week, and early results suggest both challenges and benefits.

Key Takeaways

• The U.S. debate reflects broader discussions about work‑life balance.
• Technology is positioned as a pivotal enabler for shorter workweeks.
• Stakeholder concerns highlight the trade‑offs between cost, productivity, and employee well‑being.

What is the new bill proposing?

Senator Sanders Proposes 32‑Hour Workweek Bill

Key Provisions

• Standard workweek reduced from 40 to 32 hours.
• Employers must maintain full pay and benefits; no wage cuts for fewer hours.
• Workers who exceed 32 hours will receive overtime compensation.
• Implementation phased over a four‑year period.

Senate Hearing Highlights

Senator Jonas Sanders, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, convened a session on Thursday to discuss the proposal. The hearing sought input from industry leaders, labor unions, and economic experts on potential impacts and logistical considerations.

Potential Benefits for Employees

• Employees who currently work Monday through Friday, eight hours each day, would gain an extra day for rest.
• New worktime reductions aim to improve work‑life balance without sacrificing income.

Related Influences

Recent studies from the United Kingdom show that a four‑day week trial has been met with widespread approval, with 92% of companies endorsing a shorter schedule. This international momentum may bolster support for Sanders’ bill.

How would the shorter week affect productivity?

British Firms Experiment with Four‑Day Workweeks Show Positive Results

Researchers find that cutting a typical workweek to four days can improve employee wellbeing while maintaining, or even boosting, company performance.

Study Overview

• In 2022, a consortium of university scientists and the nonprofit 4 Day Week Global partnered with 61 firms across the UK.
• The collaboration lasted six months, during which companies reduced regular hours but kept wages intact.
• Data were collected from nearly 2,900 participants in these firms.

Key Findings

• 71% of employees reported lower burnout levels.
• About half described themselves as more satisfied with their jobs.
• Revenue outcomes: 24 companies recorded growth exceeding 34%; another dozen saw modest increases.

Expert Commentary

Dr. Juliet Shor, a professor of sociology at Boston College and a lead investigator, explained the impact to a Senate committee:

“Employees experienced a clear rise in productivity after the trial: they felt more energetic, focused, and capable,” she said.

Potential Limitations

Industry specialists caution that while the model benefits office-based roles, it may not suit sectors that rely heavily on physical labor, such as manufacturing.

“These ideas have real consequences,” noted Roger King of the HR Policy Association. “They simply don’t work for many industries.”

Related Insight

• How can a four‑day week benefit European companies and employees?

What’s been the response to the bill?

Senate Clash Over Sanders’ 32‑Hour Workweek Proposal

Republican Resistance in Washington

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana voiced strong concerns that cutting employees’ hours while keeping wages unchanged would push the cost of extra hires onto consumers. He warned that such a mandate could jeopardise small businesses that already operate on razor‑thin margins, citing a lack of workers as a critical hurdle.

Companion Bill in the House Faces Similar Odds

Democratic congressman Mark Takano of California introduced a related measure to extend the reduced‑workweek agenda. However, with the GOP‑controlled House, the bill is unlikely to progress beyond committee hearings.

Sanders’ Chairmanship and the Push for Corporate Accountability

• As the committee chairman, Sanders has championed initiatives that aim to hold large corporations more accountable to their employees.
• He argues that technology has increased worker productivity but the gains have largely gone to top executives.
• Sanders stresses the need for transformative changes that benefit the workforce: “Do we continue the trend that technology only benefits the people on top, or do we demand that these transformational changes benefit working people?” He adds, “One of the benefits must be a lower workweek, a 32‑hour workweek.”

With significant opposition from both sides of the aisle, the future of Sanders’ proposal in the Senate and its companion bill in the House appears bleak.

How was the 40-hour workweek decided to be the standard?

Reforming the Workweek: The Legacy of the Fair Labor Standards Act

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was signed in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, setting a foundational limit on work hours and establishing child‑labor safeguards. Initially, the law capped the workweek at 44 hours, but two years after its enactment it was revised to the now‑standard 40‑hour week.

Perspective from Labor History

Tejasvi Nagaraja, a labor historian at Cornell University’s School of Industry and Labor Relations, notes that the FLSA arose after an extended period of union advocacy. He emphasizes that time constraints have historically carried as much weight—or more—than wages in labor movements.

Early Momentum: 19th‑Century Unions

• 1830s: Coal miners and textile workers began demanding shorter days, pushing back against duties that stretched up to 14 hours.
• Post‑Civil War: The abolition of slavery spurred renewed focus on worker rights across the United States.
• Slogan: “Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what you will.”

Government Interventions

• 1869: President Ulysses S. Grant issued an executive order mandating an eight‑hour day for federal employees.
• 1916: Congress mandated an eight‑hour workday for railroad workers.

Private Sector Innovations

In 1926, industrial pioneer Henry Ford adopted a 40‑hour workweek for his assembly line staff—well before Congress introduced a similar mandate. He famously wrote, “It is high time to rid ourselves of the notion that leisure for workmen is either lost time or a class privilege.”

Modern Discussions: The Four‑Day Workweek

Recent surveys suggest that many European companies are open to implementing a four‑day workweek, reflecting an ongoing conversation about balancing productivity, employee well‑being, and economic imperatives.