Reposted Sept 29, 2024
Burnie Sanders has introduced a bill to make 32 hours the standard workweek in the United States with no loss of pay or benefits. That is a quality of life improvement for American workers, and a de facto pay raise at least initially. Here are some points to consider about that.
A survey showed that 87% of Americans are “extremely optimistic” about this practice. Statistically, people who work fewer hours tend to be healthier and happier, although people who don’t work at all tend to be less healthy. Some companies offer a 32 hour week with full pay and benefits as an alternative to pay raises in times of inflation. Some companies offer 32 hour weeks in hopes that the quality of life improvements will help them attract the very best employees in high value jobs like engineering, science, and technology. Some private practice doctors and dentists work four day weeks, as they prefer having more time off to making more money. Some companies keep most of their employees working under 30 hours, so they will be considered part time and the company won’t have to provide full time benefits (i.e. discount hair salons). Some people claim that AI and automation have made U.S. employees enough more productive that they can work 32 hours and do the same work they used to do in 40 hours.
Some people are opposed to a shorter workweek, primarily based on concerns that the company may be less competitive, less profitable, or outright bankrupt if they did so. Some people think that a shorter workweek would result in more inflation. For hourly and minimum wage employees, a shorter workweek could just mean needing two jobs unless it is paired with an increase in hourly wages and minimum wage. Of course, there will always be people opposed to any change because change is scary and it’s not the way it was when they were young, or maybe when their grandparents were young.
Dave’s Note: An increase in minimum wage is long overdue as it hasn’t kept pace with inflation.
The 40 hour workweek originated with the invention of the assembly line, as company owners found that productivity decreased if people worked longer weeks. Both the U.S. and Japan officially consider 40 hours a standard full-time workweek, although both countries have a work-a-holic culture with many salaried employees working more than 40 hours, and some hourly jobs having mandatory overtime.
The standard workweek in France is 35 hours. It is 38 hours in Australia. People typically work less than 40 hours per week in about a dozen countries. People typically work over 50 hours a week in Egypt, Bangladesh, and a few other countries. China doesn’t publish workweek statistics, but Chinese factories are notorious for working a three sixes schedule (6 a.m. to 6 p.m. 6 days a week, or 72 hours per week less breaks for meals).
It is not uncommon for minimum wage workers to have two jobs in the U.S. This can be a matter of survival in high cost of living areas. For some people, much of the second pay check may be saved for a home purchase, children’s college, retirement, etc. Many younger people in the U.S. have a “side hustle”, a second, part-time job that may be starting a small business, getting their foot in the door of a different industry, or a plan B if they lose their main job.
What do you think?