- Bernie Sanders advocates for a 32-hour workweek without wage cuts.
- He argues AI productivity should benefit workers, not displace them.
- The proposal is part of a broader push for labor reform and economic equity.
In a powerful call for economic transformation, Senator Bernie Sanders has urged the U.S. to adopt a four-day workweek, emphasizing that advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation should uplift workers rather than render them obsolete.
Sanders points to decades of growing productivity without proportional wage increases, arguing that the economic rewards of automation have disproportionately enriched corporations and the ultra-wealthy.
From Overworked to Empowered: Bernie Sanders Reimagines Work in the Age of AI
Countries like Japan, the UK, and Belgium have already piloted four-day workweeks with promising results. For instance, Microsoft Japan reported a 40% boost in productivity during its trial, while the UK’s largest four-day pilot in 2022 saw most companies continue the policy after it concluded. These models offer compelling evidence that shorter workweeks can succeed without sacrificing economic output.
Sanders frames this push not just as a labor policy but as a moral imperative. With productivity having increased by over 400% since the 1940s and wages largely stagnant, the Vermont senator argues that workers have long been denied the fruits of their labor. His proposed reforms seek to redistribute those gains in a way that respects both workers’ time and dignity.
Critics argue that transitioning to a 32-hour week could increase pressure on small businesses, disrupt operations, or encourage greater offshoring. Others worry that mandating reduced hours may unintentionally accelerate the replacement of human jobs with machines. However, Sanders counters that with proper guardrails, AI can complement—not compete with—human labor.
At the heart of Sanders’s proposal is a larger philosophical question: What should work look like in an era of rapid automation? As AI takes over repetitive and time-intensive tasks, many economists agree that it’s an opportunity to redesign labor models for well-being and resilience. Sanders believes this change could usher in a new era where work-life balance becomes a right, not a privilege.
As AI continues to reshape economies, Bernie Sanders’s push for a four-day workweek presents a radical but increasingly relevant vision—where innovation empowers rather than displaces, and productivity gains are shared, not hoarded.
“The purpose of automation should be to make life easier for working people, not to make billionaires richer.” — Bernie Sanders
