Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made a significant move on a recent Wednesday as he tabled a new bill that would shift the norm from a 40-hour workweek to a 32-hour one. This would effectively create a four-day workweek. But there's one crucial detail. There would be no loss in worker pay with this change. The aim of this bill is straightforward. It's being introduced to enhance employees' work-life balance in the United States.
How Will the New Bill Affect Overtime Pay?
Under the new bill, which is expected to be phased over a four-year period, overtime will be significantly changed. Today, a 40-hour workweek constitutes overtime eligibility. Sanders' proposed bill would redefine this threshold to 32 hours. Beyond eight hours of work per day, workers would receive 1.5 times their regular pay, with overtime pay doubling for workdays longer than 12 hours.
Workers Win with Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act
At the heart of the proposal is the Thirty-Two-Hour Workweek Act. This act seeks to protect workers' earnings and benefits even with reduced hours. It is designed to ensure that employees do not suffer financial losses due to the contraction of the workweek.
Benefits of a Shortened Workweek
According to a press release, moving to a 32-hour workweek is not radical. It's a step forward. It lets workers share in productivity gains from technology. Sanders says workers are over 400 percent more productive than in the 1940s. Yet, they still work longer hours for lower wages. This affects work-life balance. Sanders's bill seeks to change this trend.
Can One Bill Shift the Balance of Wealth?
Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), who has introduced a parallel version in the House, have introduced introductory support for this bill. They argue that the Thirty-Two-Hour Workweek Act could give workers more time to spend with families, ensure the protection of wages, and help avoid profits being monopolized by a select few.
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Does the Future Look Brighter for Workers and Workplaces?
Mark Takano has described the bill as transformative and beneficial to workers and workplaces. Alongside, Sanders, who chairs the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, launched the legislation before the committee's hearing on the same topic. Witnesses like Shawn Fain, President of the United Auto Workers, will provide testimony for the hearing.
Successful Four-Day Workweek Precedents
In support of his advocacy, Sanders quotes various pilot programs and studies that have observed improvements in productivity with a four-day workweek. The studies suggest happier workers are more productive and less prone to burnout. Even internationally, Sanders points to countries like France, Norway, and Denmark, which have already shortened workweeks to varying extents, adding credibility to this approach.
The Past and Future of American Workweeks
Stepping back in history, the Fair Labor Standards Act saw daylight in 1938, marking the establishment of a 44-hour workweek and the first federal standard of its kind. Two years later, the shift was made to the prevailing 40-hour workweek. If Sanders' proposal gains traction and succeeds, it might script the next big chapter in American labor laws, embedding a transformational shift in workers' work-life balance nationwide.
