Sanders Backs 32-Hour Workweek Bill as Congress Debates Labor Reform

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Mark Takano introduced the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act this week, proposing to lower the federal overtime threshold from 40 to 32 hours over four years. The bill would require employers to pay overtime rates for any hours beyond 32 per week and prohibit wage or benefit cuts. Sanders tied the proposal to artificial intelligence gains, arguing workers deserve a share of productivity increases that have risen 93.2% since 1979 while wages climbed only 33.7%.

How the bill would work

The law would not create a four-day workweek but instead make overtime more expensive for employers. The overtime threshold would drop two hours per year: 38 hours in year one, 36 in year two, 34 in year three, and 32 in year four. Workers would earn time-and-a-half pay for hours beyond the threshold, or double pay for any 12-hour workday. Employers cannot cut salaries or benefits in response.

The productivity argument

Takano’s office cited data showing American worker productivity has surged 93.2% since 1979, while wages increased only 33.7% over the same period. Sanders argued that artificial intelligence and robotics will transform the economy and workers should benefit from those gains, not just billionaires and corporate CEOs. Federal labor standards have not undergone meaningful changes in more than 85 years, according to the bill’s supporters.

Republican opposition and slim odds

Republicans control both the House and Senate, making passage unlikely. Club for Growth President David McIntosh warned the plan could cost workers jobs and benefits, arguing that mandating a shorter workweek could hurt the workers it aims to help. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also expressed skepticism, stating the American dream does not include a four-day workweek.

Previous attempts and local precedent

This is not Sanders’ first push for shorter work hours. He introduced similar legislation in the Senate in 2024. Takano introduced comparable bills in 2021 and 2023. San Juan County in Washington state moved to a 32-hour workweek in 2025 after a successful two-year pilot program, providing a real-world test case. The new federal bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to apply nationwide.

Final Thoughts

With Republicans controlling Congress, the bill faces steep odds. The debate reflects a core tension: whether shorter work hours protect workers or cost them jobs. The productivity data supports Sanders’ argument, but critics’ concerns about unintended consequences remain unresolved.

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