HR Consulting Solutions’ Post

IS YOUR WORK WEEK ABOUT TO GET SHORTER? The 40-hour workweek has been the standard in the United States for more than 80 years. Now some members of Congress, led by good ol Bernie Sanders, are fighting to give hourly workers an extra day off. Last week, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a bill that would shorten the threshold for mandatory overtime pay from 40+ hours in a week to 32+ hours in a week. He cited advancements in AI, automation, and robotics to argue that companies can afford to give their employees an extra day off without reducing their pay or benefits. Bernie actually makes some good points! Some experts expect the implementation of AI in the workplace to boost productivity by up to 50%. A 2022 study by a team of university researchers and the nonprofit 4 Day Week Global found that 71% of workers were less burned out and roughly 50% were more satisfied with their jobs overall when they only worked 4 days/week. Who doesn’t love 3-day weekends?!? 80% of companies from the study reported revenue growth attributed to the change in hours worked. Critics say mandating a shorter week would force companies to hire more workers and lose money, specifically in industries like manufacturing where hands-on work is required. Sanders says the regulations would be phased in over 4 years, giving companies plenty of time to adapt and reorganize. So what do you all think? Is reducing the standard workweek to 32 hours a good idea?