In a heated debate, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) found himself in the spotlight during a contentious conversation with Fox Business correspondent Hillary Vaughn. The topic of discussion was Sanders’ proposal for a 32-hour workweek. Sanders did not hesitate to raise his voice, resulting in an unforgettable on-camera moment.
Sanders, who identifies as a democratic socialist and serves as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), led a committee hearing on Thursday. The session focused on the topic “Workers Should Benefit from New Technology and Increased Productivity: The Need for a 32-Hour Work Week with No Loss in Pay.”
The dispute began when Vaughn questioned Sanders about his proposed reduction of the standard workweek. “Can I talk to you about the 32-hour work week? It seems like… Democrats want businesses to be taxed more, pay their workers…” Vaughn began before being abruptly interrupted by Sanders. “Really? Is that what you think?” Sanders shot back.
“We held a hearing on a 32-hour work week because what we have seen is that over the last fifty years despite a huge increase in worker productivity almost all of the wealth has gone to the top one percent while sixty percent of people are living paycheck to paycheck many of our people are exhausted we work the longest hours of any people in the industrialized world,” said Sanders.
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“When Mr. Bezos pays an effective tax rate lower than the average worker, I think we have a real problem in our tax system… I think that billionaires have got to start paying their fair share of taxes,” Sanders argued.
The Thirty-Two-Hour Workweek Act is a legislative proposal aimed at reducing the standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours. The goal is to adjust the balance between work and life for employees without reducing their pay. The initiative reflects changes in worker productivity, which has significantly increased since the original establishment of the 40-hour workweek in 1940, amidst technological advancements and economic shifts.
“Moving to a 32-hour workweek with no loss of pay is not a radical idea,” said Sanders on Thursday. “Today, American workers are over 400 percent more productive than they were in the 1940s. And yet, millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages than they were decades ago. That has got to change.
“The financial gains from major advancements in artificial intelligence, automation, and new technology must benefit the working class, not just corporate CEOs and wealthy stockholders on Wall Street. It is time to reduce the stress level in our country and allow Americans to enjoy a better quality of life. It is time for a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay.”
The bill proposes a transition towards a shorter workweek by modifying the overtime compensation threshold for non-exempt employees over four years.
Key provisions of the act include:
- A phased reduction of workweek hours.
- Overtime pay at 1.5 times the regular rate for workdays longer than eight hours, and double the rate for workdays exceeding 12 hours.
- Ensuring that the reduction in work hours does not negatively impact workers’ salaries and benefits.
The proposal has received support from various labor organizations and unions.
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