Could a 32-Hour Workweek Be Coming to America? What the New Bill Proposes

Could you be enjoying a 32-day workweek soon? A new bill introduced in Congress is hoping to get the ball rolling. Here is a look at the proposed legislation and whether it is feasible.

Is a 32-Hour Workweek in Your Future?

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and Rep. Mark Takano, D-California, are fighting for a shorter workweek for Americans. The pair of legislators recently introduced the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, a piece of legislation that would gradually reduce the overtime threshold from the current 40 hours a week to 32.

Supporters of the legislation argue that American workers should reap the benefits of productivity gains that have happened in recent years due to more automation and the increased reliance on artificial intelligence (AI). 

Sanders noted in a September 8 news release that “At a time when artificial intelligence and robotics will radically transform our economy, it is imperative that the financial gains from this new technology benefit working families, not just a handful of billionaires and corporate CEOs. One important way to do that is through a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay or benefits."

Takano echoed these sentiments, saying that “Work has fundamentally changed. It’s time that labor standards caught up."

While the concept sounds great in theory, experts warn Americans not to get their hopes up. The Democrat-led bill has just a small chance of passing through the Senate and the House of Representatives. Republicans control both of these chambers of Congress and will not likely cross party lines to side with their Democratic colleagues.

The bill does more than just lower the overtime threshold. The act would also aim to prevent employers from reducing overall pay or benefits as a result of the lower number of work hours.

Takano and Sanders have earned a reputation in Congress for fighting for this issue. Takano introduced similar pieces of legislation in 2021 and 2023. Sanders followed Takano's lead in 2024, introducing a bill that tried to lower the standard 40-hour workweek.

Specifics of the Proposed Legislation

Should the bill unexpectedly pass, it would not immediately trigger a four-day workweek. The wording of the bill notes that it would change the federal overtime law, putting the onus on employers if they want employees to work more than 32 hours per week. This would make it more expensive for companies to require their staff to work for more than 32 hours each week.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, current overtime rules mandate that employers pay at least one-and-a-half times the normal hourly rate for any time worked over the 40-hour threshold. The proposed legislation would reduce the federal standard workweek to 38 hours for the first year. The gradual decrease would continue in the years ahead, reducing this standard by two hours every year until the target of 32 hours is reached.

The legislation does not guarantee that American workers will always get three days off work each week. While a company could implement a four-day, eight-hour workweek, the bill does not mandate which days workers must report to duty.

The bill would also not apply equally to the American workforce. The proposal would simply amend the existing Fair Labor Standards Act, a piece of legislation that exempts some categories of employees from overtime.

Congress first passed the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938. The overtime threshold was set to 44 hours at this time. This threshold later dropped to 42 hours for a time before landing at the 40-hour workweek that is now recognized as the norm. Although the law did not prohibit workers from putting in more hours, it required employers to pay an additional salary for those extra hours.

There is precedent in the U.S. for a shorter workweek at the local level. Washington state's San Juan County transitioned a large part of its workforce to a shorter 32-hour workweek in 2023 as part of a pilot program. Local officials announced in late 2025 that the program would become permanent after observing benefits such as lower rates of sick leave and cost savings.

Opponents of the legislation worry that shortening the workweek will increase labor costs, forcing companies to raise prices or reduce hiring.

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