Democrats cite AI gains and automation in Senate bill calling for 32-hour workweek

• Sen. Bernie Sanders and Senate Democrats called for Congress to pass a bill mandating a 32-hour workweek.
• The Vermont independent Sanders said that advances in artificial intelligence, automation and soaring corporate profits justify shortening the workweek.
• The bill would lower the maximum hours required for overtime compensation and protect workers from salary cuts.
• Experts differ on whether a shorter workweek increases overall productivity.

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Senate Democrats cited advances in artificial intelligence and automation Thursday in their argument for a bill that would mandate a 32-hour federal workweek.

"Despite massive growth in technology and worker productivity, millions of workers in our country are working longer hours for low wages," Sanders said after gaveling open a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

"The sad reality is Americans now work more hours than the people of any other wealthy nation," the committee chair and Vermont independent said later.

The bill introduced by Sanders and Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., would reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours over a four-year period.

Employers would have to pay overtime compensation to nonexempt employees of 1.5 times the hourly rate for every hour worked past eight hours in a single day, and two times the hourly rate for every hour worked past 12 hours.

The bill also would guarantee that total weekly wages would not be cut as a result of the reduction in total hours worked.

Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., has introduced a similar bill in the House of Representatives.

The bills come months after business leaders such as JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates