Politics And Labor News

"Bernie Sanders' Push for a 32-Hour Workweek in the US: Implications and Outlook"

Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill to reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours, arguing that companies can afford to give employees more time off without cutting their pay and benefits due to advances in technology. Critics argue that a mandated shorter week could force companies to hire additional workers or lose productivity. A recent study of British companies that adopted a 32-hour workweek found that employees were less stressed and more focused, while revenues remained steady or increased. However, opposition from Republicans and potentially some Democrats makes it unlikely for Sanders' proposal to advance in the Senate. The Fair Labor Standards Act, signed into law in 1938, established the 40-hour workweek after a century of labor-union efforts seeking protections for overworked individuals.