Sanders and Takano Reintroduce Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act

Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Mark Takano reintroduced the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act on September 8, 2026. The bill proposes amending the Fair Labor Standards Act to gradually reduce the standard workweek for nonexempt employees from 40 to 32 hours over a four-year period, lowering the threshold by two hours annually.

Under the proposed legislation, employees would maintain their current pay and benefits while earning overtime pay for any work performed beyond 32 hours per week. The bill further establishes overtime pay after eight hours in a single day and double pay after 12 hours. Sanders and Takano argue that productivity gains from artificial intelligence, robotics, and the internet should benefit working families rather than solely increasing corporate profits and wealth for billionaires.

The proposal has earned endorsements from several labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, National Nurses United, and the Service Employees International Union. However, critics such as Senator Bill Cassidy warn that the resulting increase in labor costs could raise consumer prices and threaten businesses with thin profit margins. While the House of Representatives and Senate are currently debating the act, analysts suggest the bill faces a difficult path in a divided Congress. Similar versions of this legislation have been introduced annually since 2021.