Sanders Pushes 32-Hour Workweek as AI Reshapes Labor Debate

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has introduced legislation to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, reducing the standard federal workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours over four years without a pay cut. The proposal mandates overtime pay at time-and-a-half for hours exceeding 32 per week, retaining full benefits for workers. Originally enacted under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 1938 law initially set a 44-hour ceiling before stepping down to 40 hours in 1940, a benchmark that has governed non-exempt employees for more than eight decades.

David McIntosh, president of the Club for Growth, criticized the plan on FOX Business’ “Varney & Co.,” warning of severe unintended consequences. He argued that forcing businesses to maintain full weekly pay for 32 hours creates an immediate surge in operational overhead. McIntosh cautioned companies could respond by trimming staff, scaling back health and retirement benefits, or converting full-time roles into part-time positions.

Sanders, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, explicitly linked the reform to the rapid integration of artificial intelligence and automated technology. Proponents contend that productivity gains from technological advancements should yield shorter hours and increased leisure time for workers, rather than solely expanding corporate profit margins. The effort is part of a broader regulatory posture, with Sanders previously advocating for federal equity stakes in major AI firms through a public wealth fund.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins rejected the premise of a federally mandated four-day schedule on “The Sunday Briefing,” emphasizing traditional views on labor. Rollins pointed to the intrinsic value of work as a core component of the national ethos, expressing skepticism that a four-day workweek aligns with long-standing cultural concepts of economic opportunity and achievement in the United States. The renewed debate follows various private-sector pilot programs in several countries examining four-day schedules.

McIntosh framed the initiative as part of an aggressive economic agenda that risks raising consumer prices and worsening cost-of-living pressures. He noted that while technological developments like AI will naturally increase worker productivity and compensation over time, a government-mandated cut in hours represents immediate burdens. Business advocacy groups and conservative leaders argue the proposal would inflict heavy financial burdens on employers and strain the broader economy.

Sanders has also raised concerns about widespread workforce displacement from AI, calling for careful oversight of automated systems. Resistance has been voiced within executive branch agencies and conservative policy circles on cultural and philosophical grounds. While business groups note that voluntary flexible scheduling differs fundamentally from a compulsory federal mandate, legislative efforts to overhaul the 40-hour standard remain a central point of contention between labor advocates and industry representatives in Washington.