What do you think the odds are that the 32 hour work week bill will get passed?

[Foxhound3857]

It was only introduced two months ago and we haven't heard much about it in that time, but all signs from those who have experimented with the 32-hour model say they find few downsides to it, and indeed that it increases both productivity and employee morale in the workplace while cutting down on operational and material costs, and employees have reported a better sense of work-life balance, having more time to spend with their families.

U.S. lawmaker proposes 'groundbreaking legislation' reducing workweek to 32 hours (msn.com)

When legislation eventually gets around to voting on this, do you think this bill will be passed, or rejected? What are your thoughts on a 32 hour work week vs 40?

 

[Southernmiss]

Won't pass anytime soon.

I think a 4 day work week has merit. It's worked in other countries .

But Won't pass anytime soon.

 

[VandVsmama]

You have better odds of winning the lottery.

 

[AgentMama]

How does this impact hourly wages? Is everyone taking a pay cut because they're working less hours? Or are they supposed to increase hourly rates? As appealing as this sounds, I'm not sure how this is rolled out and implemented here. I don't see it passing when our current market seems to be trending towards consolidation and getting the most out of a lean workforce.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I think it's a wonderful idea, but sadly, I don't see it passing.

 

[Sinder]

Losing 8 hours a week in your paycheck seems counter to all the fights for a $15 minimum wage so people can support their family.
I’m guessing we aren’t going to see alot of protests demanding that. Or maybe we will, nothing surprises me anymore

 

[morgan98]

Sounds great in theory. The devil is in the details.

 

[Christine]

Odd to me are zero.

 

[RUDisney]

Are Americans programmed to do that? While many complain about the number of hours they are working, they don't take their allotted vacation time and they work extra hours. This would work in some industries, but not in all.

And, as others have said, even if we offer a $15/hour minimum wage, it won't give workers a living wage at 32 hours per week. Those folks will still have 2-3 jobs.

And, finally, businesses can't find employees now. How are we going to make up the gap for 7 day businesses that only work employees for 32 hours?

@morgan98 said, the devil is in the details.

 

[ronandannette]

It’s not being contemplated here in Canada; I’ve never even heard it proposed. If it was though, my industry is definitely one that would either need to rotate staff to maintain a full 5-day week or take an immediate 20% drop in productivity. When people are working on various sites and carefully scheduling large numbers of contractors to be in various places, you can’t really just “compress” the same amount of work or scheduled appointments into 4 days. People can only be in one place at one time.

White-collar work might be different, if everybody just skipped their water-cooler breaks and pushed their paper a little harder. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

As a pointy haired boss type person all I have to say is "BOOOOOOO!"

Wages and overhead in my corner of the world are bad enough, how am I to make things work with even less manpower. BTW, productivity is not a thing in my neck of the woods, I need a tush in a chair for my type of customer service. Like your nuggets don't get fried if I don't have a cook in the kitchen.

My budget has remained the same, but minimum wage keeps going up closer and closer to $15/hour. My senior staff are closer to $27/hour. A shorter work week would mean lower salaries for existing staff and having to hire more people to do the same work. That will go over like a lead balloon......

 

[mikehn]

Never know. All they have to do is slip it inside the 1000 page bill along with all the other social programs that everyone loves. Nobody will read it before signing off.

 

[Colleen27]

As others have said, near zero. It is a nice idea in theory but we're not a country with a fixed workweek. We just have a line that defines regular time from overtime for hourly workers, and even that gets blurred with comp time and other games employers play to avoid paying the higher rate. And with the whole trend in business for at least my whole adult life being one of cutting positions and expecting those who are left to put in more hours to get the same work done with fewer people, I just don't see a shorter workweek catching on.

Are Americans programmed to do that? While many complain about the number of hours they are working, they don't take their allotted vacation time and they work extra hours. This would work in some industries, but not in all.

And that's another issue. Culturally, we're a nation of workers pretty well conditioned to put our employers' needs before our own. Vacation shaming, both from employers/coworkers and from the internalized belief that we make ourselves a target of future cuts if we go on vacation and things run smoothly in our absence, is a huge thing. So is wearing overwork as a badge of honor. Heck, even in the middle of a global pandemic, a lot of people are having a hard time getting their heads around staying home when they're "just a little" sick rather than powering through, because our starting point is that it is selfish to put our own comfort (staying at home with a cold) over our employers' and coworkers' need for us to pull our weight. That culture makes a shorter workweek a really hard sell even in times when you might be able to sell the economic benefit, like when unemployment is high and we need to 'find' more jobs for people to do. Making a big change like that in a time of worker shortages seems beyond impossible.

 

[mrs. magoo]

I am a teacher and I work way more than 40 hours a week. I am physically in the school building from 6:15 to 3:15 and then do an additional 2 to 3 hours at home every night. The amount of paperwork that is expected of us this year is insane.

 

[easyas123]

Wouldn't work for our business, although I wouldn't have a problem with it if it did.

I think - as a society - we are to used to a 24/7 availability of many things. Can't imagine if someone didn't get their Amazon order, or couldn't order pizza, pop into Lowes for whatever, stop at the gas station or drive thru Starbucks whenever they wanted on the off chance when they did it was during a time when they had no employees available. And as others mentioned above, right now those of us seeking employees are having a hell of a time.

 

[mom2rtk]

How do you feel about only being paid for 32 hours?

 

[OhDannyBoy]

What's a 40 hour work week? Those must be nice....

 

[disneychrista]

We had an internal job posting for a position that would have been a promotion but at 32 hours vs 40. NO ONE applied. No one wanted to lose 8 hours a day, even at a slightly higher hourly wage.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I am a teacher and I work way more than 40 hours a week. I am physically in the school building from 6:15 to 3:15 and then do an additional 2 to 3 hours at home every night. The amount of paperwork that is expected of us this year is insane.

I was going to say - I work in a school. A 4 day week can’t happen.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

I was going to say - I work in a school. A 4 day week can’t happen.

I'd imagine there will have to be some exceptions for certain fields like schools and hospitals.