Sanders Bill Proposes 32-Hour Workweek
Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Mark Takano introduced the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, which would make 32 hours the standard workweek.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Employment
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Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Mark Takano introduced the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, which would require employers to pay overtime after 32 hours in a week rather than 40. Lawmakers are debating the proposal to make 32 hours the standard workweek.
Why it matters
The bill is intended to address wealth inequality, and proponents argue the standard should reflect AI-driven gains in workplace productivity. Critics expect higher labor expenses could drive up prices and negatively affect the job market.
The bill would make 32 hours the overtime threshold, compared with the current 40-hour standard set in 1940 under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The average full-time U.S. worker logged about 43 hours per week in 2024, down from 44.1 hours in 2019, while a Duke University analysis estimated the optimal workweek at 37 hours.
The players
Bernie Sanders
Vermont independent senator and longtime progressive advocate who has championed shorter workweeks and economic equality measures.
Mark Takano
California Democratic congressman who co-sponsored the bill alongside Senator Sanders in the House.
The details
The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act would prevent employers from cutting pay or benefits and would let employers decide how the 32 hours are divided and whether extra hours are paid. The change would be phased in gradually over several years.
Timeline
1940: the 40-hour workweek was set under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
2019: the average full-time workweek was 44.1 hours.
2024: the average full-time workweek was about 43 hours.
October 2026: the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act was introduced in Congress.
Roadmap
The proposal would overturn the 40-hour standard that has governed U.S. overtime rules since the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1940. It follows a longer decline in average full-time hours, which fell from 44.1 in 2019 to about 43 in 2024.
If enacted, the bill would make overtime pay start after 32 hours instead of 40, changing paycheck calculations for hourly workers. The phase-in would give employers several years to decide how to schedule hours and whether to pay for extra work.
The takeaway
The 40-hour week has been the standard for more than eight decades, so any change would reshape how Americans think about full-time work. Readers tracking pay and schedules should watch how the bill's overtime rules develop.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore more Employment news on the United States economy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Money.
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