Federal proposal for 32-hour workweek gets traction in Congress

[Twilight Hue]

Four days on, three days off. On these three off days you have other employees come into work.
You could have your company running 7 days a week. If your business model is profitable then running it seven days a week should just make it more profitable to cover the additional workers.
You could have a day/night shift to cover that fourth day. Or offer one group a 24 hour work week.

168 hours in a week. Lots of ways to fit 32 hour weekly shifts into that. Just got to let go of 9 to 5, Monday thru Friday.

It's exactly what I have. 4 days on, three days off. My company is doing extremely well I might add and employee moral is excellent here.

They also offer the frequent option of a fith day at overtime if desired on top of that. It makes for a wonderful variety.

 

[Revoltingest]

Other countries do it and has very good results and has not impacted prosperity in the least.

How is this known?

 

[Twilight Hue]

It seems to have worked well for other countries who have tried it. I think U.S. employers will try to block it, though.

I agree but the good news is there are companies that willingly offer a shorter work week out there, and proves that a five day work week is not a nessessity to remain profitable.

I do agree a shorter work week at 32 hours likely would not fly over here. Maybe if automation takes traction as the company I work at has robotics on the floor, which helps, but I still need to work 40 hours nonetheless.

Two extra hours a day dosent bother me too much though as long as it remains 4 days.

 

[Nakosis]

Some workers cannot divide up their tasks into the same
work using more workers efficiently, eg, engineers.
Overhead increases with the number of workers.
Places I've worked would rather pay me overtime
to get more done than hire new help, who'd have
to be brought up to speed, & would have to work
simultaneously to be useful...meaning more facility
space would be needed.
Lawmakers typically don't understand the economics,
or they just don't care. Their primary goal is winning
votes to stay in office.

I'm optimistic that business management folks are smarter then the politicians.
Whatever laws government comes up with, the business side will find ways to work it to their benefit.

 

[Twilight Hue]

How is this known?

My own company and of course others for 4 day, 40 hour work weeks...

A CEO who implemented a 4-day work week says her company 'will never go back' to 5 days

For 32 hours including 4 days...


Spain to Test Four-Day Workweek, While US Among...

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm optimistic that business management folks are smarter then the politicians.
Whatever laws government comes up with, the business side will find ways to work it to their benefit.

Some policies have better effects than others.
It's unwise to not consider all the possible ones.
Optimize policies for the best balance of them all,
& beware unintended consequences.

 

[Revoltingest]

My own company and of course others for 4 day, 40 hour work weeks...

A CEO who implemented a 4-day work week says her company 'will never go back' to 5 days

For 32 hours including 4 days...


Spain to Test Four-Day Workweek, While US Among...

4 day 40 hour is a far cry from 4 day 32 hour.

 

[Leahpolitan_icecream]

Many people can't make it on 40 hours but would get overtime over 32 hours..
What are your thoughts on this?

"This week, the Congressional Progressive Caucus with nearly 100 lawmakers endorsed a bill that would cut the work week from 40 to 32 hours. The bill would require overtime pay after 32 hours."

Story here..
Federal proposal for 32-hour workweek gets traction in Congress

I will think really hard to push this through, 32 hours??????????????????? I'll have my best life always

 

[We Never Know]

I like it. I have a four day week at ten hour days and it has done wonders for the proverbial mind and soul. Of course a 32 hour week would be welcome as well if it's at full pay, but I still want four days.

Other countries do it and has very good results and has not impacted prosperity in the least.

I would think not many will work you over 32 hours if its overtime.

 

[We Never Know]

I will think really hard to push this through, 32 hours??????????????????? I'll have my best life always

Working 416 hours less a year would be good on people's retirements

 

[Twilight Hue]

I would think not many will work you over 32 hours if its overtime.

I agree. In the states, the mindset is still set on working people for 40 hours at regular pay before overtime kicks in.

Overtime after 32 is going to be a hard sell here.

 

[Quetzal]

It seems to have worked well for other countries who have tried it. I think U.S. employers will try to block it, though.

Almost all mandates/adjustments from the federal level experience resistance. I agree, this will be no different.

 

[Quetzal]

I personally fail to understand why the work week is so incredibly short already and people still want to make it shorter?

Reading both of those things I feel like I am insane and not understanding a lot of information because working four days a week sounds degrading to me and not human. I am confused as to what the benefits are. I need to study more, studying things has no end.

Your perspective is unique, I haven't heard this before. Why does it make you feel less human? (Not trying to pick a fight, im genuinely curious.)

 

[Quetzal]

See, I've always thought I could have a great life if not for the need to work for a living.

People specialize for efficiency. There is usually a demand for you to increase your efficiency in your role so there is little time left to expand into other ways to contribute. I have many interests but in working for someone else, these are not something I get paid for.

Art, music, literature, engineering, Maybe I'd be good at it, maybe not. Still extra time to find other ways to contribute.

You know what really helped me here? I got lucky and found a job where I could work from home. That opened up more time for me to explore hobbies. I understand not everyone has this opportunity but I recommend it to anyone to try.

 

[Quetzal]

I suppose if people spend said extra time in other work as you mention here then it'd all work out, although I don't really expect much from folks in this nation in doing that.

Maybe, but I see your point, Personally? I would want to find some way to contribute as well. If I had a 32 hour work week I would begin investigating volunteering or maybe another weekend gig doing something that may pay less but I would enjoy more.

 

[Koldo]

I personally fail to understand why the work week is so incredibly short already and people still want to make it shorter?

Reading both of those things I feel like I am insane and not understanding a lot of information because working four days a week sounds degrading to me and not human. I am confused as to what the benefits are. I need to study more, studying things has no end.

If you don't understand why people would want to work less.... Yes, you are insane.

It is one of those things we are not supposed to explain.... If we have to, there is some major underlying issue.

 

[Koldo]

Some workers cannot divide up their tasks into the same
work using more workers efficiently, eg, engineers.
Overhead increases with the number of workers.
Places I've worked would rather pay me overtime
to get more done than hire new help, who'd have
to be brought up to speed, & would have to work
simultaneously to be useful...meaning more facility
space would be needed.
Lawmakers typically don't understand the economics,
or they just don't care. Their primary goal is winning
votes to stay in office.

Yeah...
It is one of those things that would be great... If it worked.... but life is not so simple. Here is me hoping some major research is done before something like this becomes the law.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

6 days a week with 10 hour days actually sounds like a good work week to me.

Oh, really? You can have my job. Have fun. Enjoy your body breaking down in a few years. See how much of a "blessing" or "divine gift" you think it is. I mean, seriously. Have you ever worked retail or done a physical job?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Many people can't make it on 40 hours but would get overtime over 32 hours..
What are your thoughts on this?

"This week, the Congressional Progressive Caucus with nearly 100 lawmakers endorsed a bill that would cut the work week from 40 to 32 hours. The bill would require overtime pay after 32 hours."

Story here..
Federal proposal for 32-hour workweek gets traction in Congress

If they raise wages along with that, I'm for it

 

[Brickjectivity]

It sounds like it may not work here, not for long.

Did anybody see John Oliver's last show about unions this year? The real fix (more permanent) could be protecting and reinvigorating unions. Unions have little or no protection these days when they are forming, so workers have very little representation in franchised companies. Unions could fix most problems about hours and wages. Also if unions were in action then shorter work weeks might be effective, but without a dynamic representative for workers a rule change is unlikely to do what it is intended to do. 'Dynamic' means "Responding quickly to conditions." Congress isn't dynamic, so business will quickly antiquate and make ineffective any measures it comes up with. That's why we have the Fed. Congress is not dynamic or effective in dealing with business.