Bernie Sanders is right about the four-day workweek – but wrong about how to get there

September 20, 2026 • Us

Summary

Senator Bernie Sanders proposed a law that would require overtime pay for work over 32 hours per week, instead of the current 40 hours. This change would increase costs for employers and could encourage more use of automation, while employees increasingly value more time off for balance and well-being.

Key Facts

Sanders' proposal requires employers to pay 1.5 times the regular pay for hours worked over 32 per week, phased in over several years.
Currently, overtime pay starts after 40 hours of work in a week.
For a worker earning $25 per hour, the weekly pay would rise from $1,000 to $1,100, costing the employer about $5,000 more per year per employee.
Employers also pay extra taxes and benefits like retirement contributions, increasing overall costs.
Small businesses with 25 or 50 employees would face thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars in added costs annually under this law.
Many businesses find it hard to reduce work hours due to low unemployment and difficulty finding workers.
Some business owners may turn to automation, like AI, to offset higher labor costs.
Research shows many workers, especially younger ones, prefer more time off rather than extra pay for better life balance.
The article suggests government incentives for employers to offer more paid time off and family support benefits instead of mandatory reduced work hours.