Vermont senator Bernie Sanders introduces four-day workweek bill

Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont who twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, introduced a bill to establish a four-day US working week.

Studies and pilot programmes have shown that four-day workweeks can increase productivity and happiness. Given Republican control of the House and a Senate split 51-49 in favour of Democrats, however, the legislation stands little chance of success.

“Moving to a 32-hour workweek with no loss of pay is not a radical idea,” Sanders said on Thursday. “Today, American workers are over 400% more productive than they were in the 1940s. And yet millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages than they were decades ago.

“That has got to change. The financial gains from the major advancements in artificial intelligence, automation and new technology must benefit the working class, not just corporate chief executives and wealthy stockholders on Wall Street.

“It is time to reduce the stress level in our country and allow Americans to enjoy a better quality of life. It is time for a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay.”

The legislation is co-sponsored by Laphonza Butler, a Democratic senator from California, and Mark Takano, a House Democrat from the same state.

Butler said: “The Thirty-Two-Hour Workweek Act would allow hard-working Americans to spend more time with their families while protecting their wages and making sure profits aren’t only going to a select few.”

Takano hailed “transformative legislation that will be a win for both workers and workplaces”.

Sanders’ office hailed endorsements from unions and campaign groups and cited predictions of a shorter workweek from business giants including Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, and Jamie Dimon, chief