As part of his Labor Day message to workers in the United States, Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday re-upped his call for the establishment of a 20% cut to the workweek with no loss in pay—an idea he said is “not radical” given the enormous productivity gains over recent decades that have resulted in massive profits for corporations but scraps for employees and the working class.
“It’s time for a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay,” Sanders wrote in a Guardian op-ed as he cited a 480% increase in worker productivity since the 40-hour workweek was first established in 1940.
“It’s time,” he continued, “that working families were able to take advantage of the increased productivity that new technologies provide so that they can enjoy more leisure time, family time, educational and cultural opportunities—and less stress.”
The issue I see with this is the prices of things, if you had to pay some one 40 hours of wages for only 32 hours of work plus having to hire someone to fill that extra hours (if you can even find someone) will mean prices will probably increase.
Don’t get me wrong only working 32 hours a week sounds amazing but as someone who works 60 hrs per week and still struggles to pay bills it’s not something for me
It’s exactly for someone like you. You should be able to afford your bills without working yourself to death, that’s the point.
But if I have time off I spend more money
If you’re working 60hrs per week and still struggle to pay bills, that means they are not paying you enough! Any job should be sustainable with giving only a reasonable amount of your time. (40 hours per week is not reasonable, it is unbalanced with living your life)
I feel like $40 per hour is plenty enough. But income tax sucks when you rent out your house sooo.
It’s not something for 90% of workers, these policies only help the rich, not the poor