• Will the BILL come to Pass?
• If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
• Rep. Mark Takano of CA 39th District, 1st attempt, 2021, 2nd attempt, 2023 & again 2025
• Work Week was 44 hours and changed to 40 in 1938
• Anything over 32 hours will be overtime 

Quoted, https://www.middleearth.com, LOTR, 05-28-2025

The standard 40-hour workweek, a cornerstone of U.S. labor law since 1940, could face a historic shift. The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, introduced as H.R. 4728 by Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA41), proposes reducing the federal workweek to 32 hours by triggering overtime pay at the 33rd hour instead of the 41st. While pilot programs worldwide tout benefits like less stress and higher productivity, critics warn it could cut hours and favor the affluent. Here’s what the bill does, who’s backing it, and its chances.

 

The Proposal: Redefining the Workweek 

Under current federal law, established by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most employees receive overtime pay of at least 1.5 times their usual hourly wage for hours worked beyond 40 per week. (Some workers, like certain professionals, are exempt.) The FLSA originally set the workweek at 44 hours in 1938, lowering it to 40 hours in 1940.

The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, introduced on July 27, 2024, would:

• Reduce the federal definition of the standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours.
• Mandate overtime pay starting at the 33rd hour, not the 41st.
• Not mandate a 32-hour workweek but incentivize it through overtime rules.

The bill, led by Rep. Takano, has four Democratic cosponsors and awaits a vote in the House Education and Labor Committee.

Why It’s Gaining Traction 

Advocates argue a shorter workweek boosts worker conditions, pay, and productivity while reducing commutes. Pilot programs in countries like Spain and companies like Kickstarter show benefits: less stress (good for employees), lower turnover (good for employers), and higher productivity due to reduced fatigue (good for both).

Rep. Takano champions the bill as a response to modern work challenges. “At a time when the nature of work is rapidly changing, it’s incumbent upon us to explore all possible means of ensuring our modern business model prioritizes productivity, fair pay, and an improved quality of life for workers,” he said in a press release. “I am introducing this legislation to reduce the standard workweek to 32 hours because — now more than ever — people continue to work longer hours while their pay remains stagnant. We cannot continue to accept this as our reality.”

He tied it to post-COVID recovery: “After the COVID-19 pandemic left so many millions of Americans unemployed or underemployed, a shorter workweek will allow more people to participate in the labor market at better wages. This is a groundbreaking piece of legislation and I’m grateful to the organizations and colleagues that firmly stand behind it. I look forward to continuing the work on this issue so that people may experience the best possible working conditions — the working conditions they deserve.”

The Opposition: Risks to Workers 

Critics warn the bill could harm workers by reducing hours instead of raising pay. They point to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which required health insurance for employees working 30 hours per week. Post-ACA, the share of workers clocking 31-34 hours (above the threshold) dropped, while those working 25-29 hours (below it) rose, suggesting employers cut hours to dodge costs.

Skeptics also argue the bill favors upper-class and upper-middle-class workers, not the broader working class. Joe Pinsker, writing for The Atlantic, noted, “In truth… a four-day workweek is the dream of a limited set: well-educated, highly-paid workers who manipulate symbols all day — not the nation’s workers as a collective whole.” He quoted Dan Hamermesh, an economics professor at the University of Texas at Austin: “It’s very easy for folks sitting back in their chairs to say, ‘Yes, you [should] be on a part-time schedule, or a four-day, 32-hour schedule,’ without thinking about the extent to which such folks want the income and are willing to put up with the hard hours. That’s what bothers me most about this discussion, frankly. It’s very much a bunch of well-to-do folks telling others how much they should work.”

Historical Context 

The 40-hour workweek, cemented in 1940, was a compromise after decades of labor struggles. The FLSA’s shift from 44 to 40 hours reflected evolving views on work-life balance. Today’s push for 32 hours echoes that debate, fueled by post-COVID shifts and global experiments with shorter workweeks.

Odds of Passage 

With only four Democratic cosponsors, the bill faces an uphill battle in a divided Congress. Its fate rests with the House Education and Labor Committee, where it awaits a potential vote. Broad support may hinge on addressing critics’ concerns about hour cuts and class disparities.

Why It Matters 

The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act could reshape American work culture, promising higher pay and better conditions but risking reduced hours for some. As pilot programs show promise, the debate pits productivity gains against economic realities. Will the U.S. embrace a 32-hour workweek, or is it a dream for the elite? The fight’s just begun.

 

Sources 

• Legislative Details: Information on the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act (H.R. 4728), its provisions, and cosponsors is from the original text, likely sourced from congressional records or Rep. Takano’s office.
• Quoted Statements: Quotes from Rep. Takano (“At a time when the nature…”, “After the COVID-19 pandemic…”) are from the original text, attributed to his press release. Quotes from Pinsker (“In truth…”) and Hamermesh (“It’s very easy…”) are from The Atlantic, as cited.
• Historical Context: FLSA’s 44-hour (1938) to 40-hour (1940) shift and ACA data on hour reductions are from the original text; no specific links provided but implied from public policy records.
• Hamermesh, University of Texas at Austin
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa
• https://www.middleearth.com, LOTR

Author, Ryan Bridglal, 05-28-2025

 

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