OAN’s James Myers
8:26am – Thursday, March 14, 2024
Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday introduced a bill that would establish a standard four-day work week in the United States without a pay cut.
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of 32 hour work week law The proposal proposed by Mr. Sanders, I-Vt., would reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours over four years by lowering the threshold for overtime pay for non-exempt employees. is.
“Moving to a 32-hour work week without reducing pay is not a radical idea,” Sanders said in a press release. “Today, the productivity of American workers is more than 400% higher than it was in the 1940s. Yet, millions of Americans are working longer hours at lower wages than they were decades ago. I work hours, and that has to change.”
In addition, for working days exceeding 8 hours, demand overtime pay of 1.5 times the worker’s regular wage, and for working days exceeding 12 hours, demand overtime pay of 2 times the worker’s regular wage. become.
The proposed bill would also protect workers’ wages and benefits from wage losses.
A press release describes the bill as “an important step toward enabling workers to share in the significant productivity gains brought about by artificial intelligence, automation, and new technologies.”
“The economic gains from major advances in artificial intelligence, automation, and new technologies should benefit the working class, not just corporate CEOs and wealthy Wall Street shareholders. The time has come to ensure Americans enjoy a better quality of life,” Sanders wrote.
Sanders introduced the bill along with Sen. LaFonza Butler (D-Calif.), and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) introduced a companion bill in the House.
“While CEO pay continues to rise, employees are earning less than they have in recent decades, even though they are doing more work,” Butler said in a statement. I am aware of that,” he said. “The 32-hour work week law would allow hard-working Americans to spend more time with their families, while protecting their wages and ensuring that benefits don’t go to a select few. Let’s go.”
But opponents say companies cannot afford to reduce working hours while maintaining the same wages.
“Companies may need to hire and train more people because they need to create the same level of work,” said Mary Elizabeth, founder of remote-based firm Elkodi Global Strategies. Elkodi said in a previous interview. fox news digital.
Sanders also argued that recent technological developments, including advances in artificial intelligence, are helping to provide Americans with the means to reduce their working hours.
“The economic gains from major advances in artificial intelligence, automation, and new technologies should benefit the working class, not just corporate CEOs and wealthy Wall Street shareholders,” Sanders said. “It’s time to reduce stress levels in our country and help Americans enjoy a better quality of life. It’s time to work a 32-hour work week without losing pay.”
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