Sanders' 32-hour workweek proposal meets backlash over job and cost risks

Senator Bernie Sanders is again advocating a federal 32-hour workweek, proposing to cut the standard from 40 to 32 hours within four years while preserving wages and benefits and applying overtime after 32 hours. He ties the change to productivity gains from artificial intelligence, insisting workers should share those benefits. Club for Growth president David McIntosh countered, warning that mandating a shorter week could cause job cuts, loss of benefits, and make life more unaffordable for Americans.

He discussed these concerns on a business program, emphasizing that AI may boost wages but the policy could backfire. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also voiced opposition, stating that the dignity of work and the American dream do not accommodate a four-day workweek. The clash underscores the divide between progressive labor ideas and conservative economic cautions.