Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act
Sponsored By: Senator Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced
Summary
Reduce the standard overtime workweek to 32 hours. This bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to shift the overtime trigger from 40 to 32 hours per week, add new daily overtime rules, and phase the change in over several years.
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- Workers: Workers would become eligible for overtime pay once a workweek exceeds 32 hours and that overtime must be paid at not less than 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over the threshold.
- Daily workdays: The bill adds daily overtime protections, with time-and-a-half for hours over 8 up to 12 in a workday and double pay for hours beyond 12.
- Employers and timing: Employers may not reduce an employee’s total weekly pay or benefits when the employee becomes covered. The shift would begin not less than 180 days after enactment and phase to the 32-hour threshold over a three-year schedule.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Phased 32-hour weekly overtime rule
If enacted, this bill would lower the weekly overtime threshold in four steps. The phase-in would begin not less than 180 days after enactment. In Year 1 overtime would start for workweeks longer than 38 hours. In Year 2 it would start over 36 hours. In Year 3 it would start over 34 hours. After Year 3 overtime would start for workweeks over 32 hours. Employers would have to pay at least 1.5 times the regular rate for overtime hours under these rules.
Daily overtime pay for long shifts
If enacted, the bill would add daily overtime rules right away. For a workday longer than 8 hours and up to 12 hours, hours over 8 would get at least 1.5 times your regular rate. For hours over 12 in a day, hours over 12 would get at least double pay. The change would take effect upon enactment.
Protections for newly overtime-covered workers
If enacted, the bill would bar employers from cutting an employee's total workweek pay rate or any other employee benefit because the employee becomes newly covered by the overtime rules. This protection applies in any workweek the employee is brought into overtime coverage. The protection would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov