The 40-hour week became US law in 1940. A new bill from Bernie Sanders would cut the standard week to how many hours?

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The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, announced September 8, 2026 by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Mark Takano, would lower the standard week from 40 hours to 32 over four years, with no cut in pay or benefits. Sanders argues that artificial intelligence and robotics will "radically transform our economy," and that the gains should reach working families rather than "a handful of billionaires and corporate CEOs."

France cut its legal workweek from 39 hours to 35 on February 1, 2000, and it is still 35. Hours past that are paid at a 25% premium for the first eight, then 50%.

The US workweek has been 40 hours by law since 1940. A new Sanders bill would cut it to 32 over four years, pay untouched.

Source: Rep. Mark Takano and Sen. Bernie Sanders press releases, Sep 8, 2026 · checked Sep 2026