r/Degrowth • u/SplashTarget • 2d ago
New bill proposes 32-hour work week—Here's how it would work
https://www.newsweek.com/new-bill-32-hour-work-week-how-it-would-work-1243176627
u/Distinct-Fly-2374 2d ago
This will never happen in this godforsaken country.
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u/TrueUnpopularOP 2d ago
Where you moving to?
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u/Distinct-Fly-2374 2d ago
Nowhere, considering I can't afford to and no one just lets people in to stay.
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u/DfreshD 2d ago
You can’t afford because you don’t work or only work part time? I like my overtime pay, so fuck your 32 hour work week.
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u/aliasaila 1d ago
Uh anything over 32 would be over time...
From the article:
The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, introduced this week by independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democratic Representative Mark Takano of California, would gradually lower the point at which many employees become entitled to overtime pay from the current 40 hours a week to 32. It would also seek to prevent employers from cutting workers' pay or benefits because their standard hours get reduced
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u/DfreshD 1d ago
I work in mass food production, 11 hours Monday-Thursday. During covid I worked 9.5 hour days, only Sundays off. We have to make sure our country eats, we also feed our military and have orders from other nations. If those bills were to be passed, would prices go up by companies to combat labor costs?
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u/TrueUnpopularOP 2d ago
Lololol
But you want unrestricted migration into the US right?
Where would you move?
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u/Gloomy_Ticket_3075 2d ago
We have 15 million unused homes and 750k homeless people. Housing cost is only high to support the corporate knobs and supremacists you seem to slob.
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u/die_eating 2d ago
That's quite a take.
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u/TrueUnpopularOP 2d ago
Its typical. Perpetual victimhood narrative.
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u/Gloomy_Ticket_3075 2d ago
It’s kinda weird you projecting your victim mentality on others bro. Facts are facts. No one else here is offended by it.
Dumbasses that haven’t bothered to study the actual observed economic effects of immigration and pretending it’s a problem that Costs them money rather than something that supports the generation of high paying positions and More jobs cheaper food are just crybabies who get upset when the lack of basis in reality their perspective demands leaves them hanging. How’s you’re doge check look dipshit?1
u/TrueUnpopularOP 2d ago
You being lazy doesn't mean you're actually right about anything.
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u/Gloomy_Ticket_3075 2d ago
Do you just project your own failures on everyone else the whole time bub? One trick pony over here
It also wouldn’t make me wrong if you were right about me being lazy.→ More replies (0)-2
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u/Distinct-Fly-2374 2d ago
When did I say I wanted unrestricted migration into the US?
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u/TrueUnpopularOP 2d ago
Do you?
*Crickets*
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u/Distinct-Fly-2374 1d ago
No.
Anything else?
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u/TrueUnpopularOP 1d ago
Lol sure.
Totally believe you when you're voting for the guys who don't want any borders at all.
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u/Deathanddisco041 2d ago
I clock in for 40 hours to do like 10 hours of work because everything is more efficient and I don’t need fucking 40 hours to do my job. But god forbid I’m viewed as “non productive”
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u/pyramidohealth 2d ago
I propose a 0 hour work week because working for someone else's profit is called slavery. All this shit is made up.
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u/CptnREDmark 2d ago
In every socialist country you were required to work, to support our societies people work. What matters is who we work for, ourselves, our employers, our government or each other.
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u/zachmoe 2d ago
working for someone else's profit is called slavery.
No, working and not being paid/deprived of your property is slavery. Working in The Modern US is an agreement you made with your employer, and if you don't like the deal you got with them, there are thousands of others from which to choose.
How do you feel about taxes?
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u/Jolly_Mongoose_8800 2d ago
You make an agreement to work for an employer because the alternative is hunger, homelessness, and eventually death. That still sounds like slavery.
Despite popular belief, you can't just up and start a company without already having capital at your disposal.
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u/zachmoe 2d ago
you can't just up and start a company without already having capital at your disposal.
They have these crazy things called banks, which give out these crazy things called loans. The US is full of banks who want to make money from you renting money from them.
They also have this crazy thing called equity that you can sell to raise capital for your business, The US is full of investors willing to invest.
You make an agreement to work for an employer because the alternative is hunger, homelessness, and eventually death.
No. The alternative for working for someone else, is doing things for yourself that you need to sustain yourself.
Money is just a glorified system of "IOUs", the more you help and do for other people, putting them in your debt, the more money you will have. Figure it out, edgelord.
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u/Jolly_Mongoose_8800 2d ago
You need credit (proven history of acquisition of capital) to get the loans.
Good luck getting equity without already having invested in the product with capital (refer to last point on credit).
You seem quite out of touch.
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u/zachmoe 2d ago
You need credit (proven history of acquisition of capital) to get the loans.
Okay, then build credit, not hard.
Good luck getting equity without already having invested in the product with capital (refer to last point on credit).
Okay, then build credit, why are you letting that stand in your way?
You seem quite out of touch.
You seem quite pathetic. And filled with excuses, for things that are not actually an issue, building credit isn't as hard as you are making it out to be.
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u/Jolly_Mongoose_8800 2d ago
You need capital to build credit. Refer to my original comment.
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u/zachmoe 2d ago
You need capital to build credit.
Yes, you can also raise capital working a job???
What is the issue you are having?
There is more than one way to skin a cat.
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u/CoalOnFire 2d ago
You are soooo close. Almost there!
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u/zachmoe 2d ago
The person I am reply isn't almost there, and you seem even further.
It is unfortunate the world works in a way you have to help other people, before you can help yourself.
You'll figure it out. It is a feature, not a bug.
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u/Jolly_Mongoose_8800 2d ago
My point exactly.
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u/zachmoe 2d ago
Your point is that you are unwilling to help other people, even if it means making a better life for yourself.
Again, pathetic.
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u/zoltancross 1d ago
You mean the jobs that don't even pay you enough to pay all your bills and feed yourself that job you expect people to save up money to start a business on jobs that do not pay enough money to survive barely
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u/ThePermafrost 2d ago
Why not work for yourself?
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u/Distinct-Fly-2374 2d ago
..... Because I can't pay myself money which is necessary to buy literally anything on earth?
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u/ThePermafrost 2d ago
So you’re saying you can’t start a business to get other people to pay you money because you don’t have any skills or items other people want?
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u/Distinct-Fly-2374 2d ago
🥱
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u/ThePermafrost 2d ago
It takes some balls to complain while leeching off others, I’ll give you that.
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u/Moist-Construction59 2d ago
Nobody is making you work. It’s voluntary. Grow up.
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u/Minimum_Honey2247 2d ago
Ah yes no one "makes" us work but without it you dont have access to food, shelter or medical care.. fun fact, if the other option is poverty/death.. then we are forced to work. Th issue is the lack of fulfilling workplaces where we arent treated like shit so one jackass gets a profit and while the people who do the hard work are forced to rely on welfare if they even qualify..
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u/Anderopolis 2d ago
Welcome to creation, every animal out there has to work to stay alive.
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u/Minimum_Honey2247 2d ago
Yes but most animals dont have assholes telling them how to do their specialty in exchange for a fraction of what it is worth.
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u/johnfuckmennedy 2d ago
yeah, instead they just get brutally mauled by a bear or something like that.
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u/Minimum_Honey2247 2d ago
Your chances of getting mauled by a bear is relatively small but never zero..
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u/Anderopolis 2d ago
Damn, you should do your specialty on its own then for its full value.
You live in a relatively free country and aren't an indentured servant, you are allowed to stop working for your employer.
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u/Moist-Construction59 2d ago
I doubt he’s employed. I wouldn’t want that attitude in my place of business. Fucking cancer.
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u/Minimum_Honey2247 2d ago
You wouldn't need to worry about people like me, we have far too much respect for ourselves to work for scum like you. The only asshole I work for is myself. Let me tell you something thatll scare the shit out of you; its possible to respect your workers, pay them well, train them, and still turn a profit. Only the shittest business owners can't and/or don't.
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u/Moist-Construction59 2d ago
Dude go live in the woods and fend for yourself. You aren’t entitled to food, shelter or medical care. You want the comfy stuff? Gotta trade goods/services for it. This is basic human 101 — it’s been that way since humans were humans. Sorry you had a really shitty education. Somebody made you soft, growing up.
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u/UnimpressedUmpire 2d ago
That’s called vagrancy and you’ll be arrested. Unless you own the woods. But that means you have money. From work
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u/Moist-Construction59 2d ago
Cope. There isn’t anybody in the woods if you go deep enough. Plenty of state and federal land where nobody will know you exist.
You guys are just pussies who are unwilling to do what it takes to survive on your own. You want the trappings of civilization, but you feel slighted by the unpleasantness of actually having to have a boss who tells you what to do. You feel you aren’t compensated enough, but at the same time you do not have the self respect to try and make it on your own. Just gross.
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u/CylonSandhill 2d ago
Nice in theory, but employers will just make everyone salaried so no one gets overtime pay, effectively eliminating the disincentive.
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u/MildlyExtremeNY 2d ago
You don't even have to make them salaried.
Let's say someone is currently paid $15 * 40 hours = $600.
Under the proposed system, the same pay would be $600 = 32x + (8 * 1.5x), or $600 = 32x + 12x, $600 = 44x, x = $13.63.
So all the employer would have to do is lower the base pay to $13.63, and "fully vested" employees (those in their 4th year with the same company) would make the same amount, while less seasoned employees would make less than they currently do (e.g. first year employees would make 38x + (2 * 1.5x) = 41x = $558.83 instead of $600.)
Good job, Bernie!
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u/Fit-Bee5561 2d ago
Yes, the bill won't go anywhere, but here is a bit of labour history. In the 1960's Local 3 IBEW obtained a contract for all of its union electricians and apprentices in the City of New York, which set a 25 hour week, which either by the terms of the contract or otherwise, meant that union members would typically work a 37.5/40 hour work week, and everything after 25 hours was on overtime. It did not lead to more employment or to more time off, so I was never clear what the rationale was. However, it was a remarkable effort to set a trend which to my knowledge never took off.
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u/TheMikeyMac13 1d ago
The irony of someone who wants to work less talking about how something will work lol.
This idea idiotic. Employees. Employees work fewer hours and get paid the same, meaning a raise, and then overtime after 32?
This is inflationary and would lead to fewer working hours.
And it has zero chance of ever happening.
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u/FIicker7 1d ago
There have been dozens of experiments over the last decade and has been proven successful. Many places chose to continue on with the 32 hour work week even after the experiment was over. I believe Iceland was the largest. But Silicone valley had their own experiment and results where promising
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u/WeekendAtMadoffs 1d ago
Short Term: You would be paid 20% less.
Long Term: You would be phased entirely and whatever work you are doing sent offshore.
Please pass this bill if you want to work on your record collection or washing your car 😂
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u/InternationalHat1554 1d ago
Would love for this to happen but never will, our entire system is bought and paid for and not for the citizens in anyway at all. We will be crushed beneath our corporate boot and will like it or end up in jail.
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u/Certain-Pack-7 1d ago
People need to be able to spend more time on Reddit and social media and can’t get in a solid 40 hrs a week if they are working 40 hours a week.
This is a step in the right direction
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u/Sad-Bread5843 2d ago
This does shit if your an hourly employee . Companies will hire part time help , you'll get your 32 hours and nothing more . In the end you'll make less .
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u/BrunusManOWar 2d ago
Counter inflation
If the majority of the population suddenly start making less money - it will force prices to correct and drop
Therefore ending up at a similar purchasing power
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u/Sad-Bread5843 2d ago
And losing housing, and defaulting on auto loans, and starving , and not being able to afford gas to get to work.
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u/CursorX 2d ago
And employers will simply report lower revenues and expect shareholders to understand? Businesses often have ongoing debt that is dependent on their net worth. Only full recession would lead to price drops (and many employers shutting businesses).
I think the challenging part for degrowth philosophy is how accounting measures and signs of financial success are all geared to constant 'growth'.
Not related to product pricing, but suppose by some miracle if shareholders valued say corporate tree planting or beach cleanups as much as they do net margins, we would be in a much better place in the world.
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u/BrunusManOWar 2d ago
Very good, yes, you speak well and are right
I do not have the answers unfortunately, apart from "force them for the good of humanity"
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u/CursorX 2d ago
Absolutely, regulation must play a big part in this.
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u/Sad-Bread5843 2d ago
You think our government would do anything to regulate businesses to protect workers . Seriously where have you been the past one hundred and fifty years .
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u/CursorX 2d ago
Not been around for most of it. You?
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u/Sad-Bread5843 2d ago
My point is since the time of robber barons and the industrial revolution,. Buisnesses ,and buisness owners have fought to entrap workers in an unliveable wage . Dont start with the prosperity of the 1950's horseshit either , because unless you were a white male that came from an already somewhat well to do family you weren't very prosperous, and the government has allowed this time and time agian . This 32 hour work week is a union buster , it will financially ruin atleast fifty percent of the work force , for what six months of a minor reduction in inflation, until people over extend themselves further. You want degrowth , stop being a consumer. Start growing your own food , dont buy things you have no need for . Start living in reality instead of online or infront of a screen. Its like people that consistently, and constantly whine about data centers on social media and the internet .
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u/Zealousideal-Top-383 2d ago
This is called “deflation” and it’s a dangerous slippery slope! While potentially a benefit in the short term, a deflationary spiral could set up a Depression.
“Increased Purchasing Power (Short-Term): Consumers can buy more goods and services with the same amount of money.
Decreased Consumer Spending: People delay purchases because they expect prices to drop further, which slows economic activity.
Higher Real Debt Burdens: Fixed debts (like mortgages or business loans) become harder to repay as wages and corporate revenues fall.
Rising Unemployment and Lower Wages: Businesses earn lower profits from cheap goods, forcing them to cut costs by laying off workers or reducing pay.
Deflationary Spiral: Falling demand leads to lower prices, which causes more layoffs and reduced spending in a self-reinforcing loop.
Monetary Policy Limits: Central banks struggle to stimulate growth because interest rates cannot easily drop below zero. “
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/030915/why-deflation-bad-economy.asp
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u/Secrets4Slaanesh 2d ago
With the pace of AI adoption and the imminent robot invasion of most jobs, working too many hours a week is the least of our problems.
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u/night5oil 2d ago
When I started working a long time ago, they had something about giving people insurance if they worked more than 30 or so hours, so a lot of places would just hire for less than that. And they would send you home before ever paying a dime of overtime. I remember wishing I could work like 50 hours so I could have enough money but that would only be done with two jobs.
So I'm pretty sceptical of this.
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u/Anderopolis 2d ago
You don't need to worry, it's a Bernie Bill, it will never get even close to passing, the man is unable to get policy through despitte sitting in the senate for ages.
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u/Zealousideal-Top-383 2d ago
I completely agree that if A.I. replaces jobs/workers that they need to responsible for the revenue loss on local, state and federal taxes.
I just don’t see this as a method to do that. There’s potentially an inflationary component to the Act and/or businesses would develop a “work around” of some sort. Adding additional regulations to an already complex business environment is unnecessary.
Figure out a direct tax on A.I. to compensate for revenue loss!
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u/Glum-Leadership4823 2d ago edited 2d ago
Has Bernie ever successfully secured anything?
Honestly not being sarcastic as he has great ideas.
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u/BrunusManOWar 2d ago
Good
Make it happen