Bernie Sanders pushes for a four-day, 32-hour workweek in the United States — here’s what the proposal could look like in practice

The traditional 40-hour workweek is being questioned more seriously than ever, and Bernie Sanders has become one of its most vocal critics.

In a recent discussion, he revisited the idea of a 32-hour, four-day workweek — arguing that if productivity rises through technology and automation, workers should benefit in the form of more free time, not just higher corporate profits.

At the center of his push is the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, which would treat 32 hours as the new standard full-time schedule in the U.S. Under the proposal, workers would receive overtime pay for hours beyond that threshold, creating a financial incentive for companies to move away from the traditional five-day model.

Supporters see it as a response to burnout and changing workplace realities, especially as AI and automation reshape how work is done. Critics, however, question whether businesses — especially small employers — could absorb the higher labor costs without cutting jobs or reducing wages elsewhere.

At its core, the debate isn’t just about hours. It’s about who benefits from rising productivity: corporations, or the people doing the work.