Progressive staffers on Capitol Hill are proposing an concept to shorten their workweek to 32 hours.
The Congressional Progressive Employees Affiliation despatched a letter to leaders of the Home and Senate, proposing a shorter workweek, arguing the discount would enhance the work accomplished on the Hill.
The letter, addressed to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), mentioned adopting the proposal would “improve worker satisfaction, increase staff retention,” and mannequin a sustainable work strategy nationally.
“By adopting a 32-hour workweek for staff on a rotating basis, you can accomplish these goals while retaining the productivity and quality of work you expect and deserve from your team,” they wrote within the letter, first reported by Politico.
The staffers highlighted the “demanding and intensive” work that goes on behind the scenes of Congress, noting they typically work lengthy, rigorous hours that usually result in burnout and untimely resignations
The group argued that it’s a poor consequence each for the workers and the member of Congress, who should rent new workers and disrupt the workplace’s workflow. With a shortened workweek, the staffers continued, longer tenures may very well be the norm, and work could be simpler and environment friendly.
Within the letter, they outlined a proposal that the 32-hour week could be in place for D.C.-based workers when the member of Congress is out of session or working of their district or state places of work. It could be in place for district workers when the member is in session in Washington.
Their proposal highlighted research on companies which have transitioned to a 4-day workweek that haven’t seen a drop in productiveness however a rise. Office satisfaction has additionally skyrocketed at these companies, per the staffers’ evaluation.
The affiliation famous that some members could also be within the shorter workweek however could also be hesitant. The letter advised a 6-month trial, the place members may check how nicely their workers works beneath the brand new mannequin.
The concept was instantly criticized by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.). In a submit on X, Torres questioned why the progressives weren’t being “bold” and asking for a “0-hour workweek.”
“I wonder how blue-collar Americans would feel about white-collar workers demanding a 32-hour workweek,” he mentioned.
The affiliation posted in response that the 32-hour workweek shouldn’t be a “special perk” for presidency workers, however fairly the implementation of the thought could be setting an instance nationwide that it will improve productiveness.
“Don’t buy it? Try it out!” the group mentioned. “If the quality of amount of work your staff does decreases, we’ll stand corrected.”
Laws across the concept has been beforehand launched in each chambers of Congress, together with a 2023 invoice spearheaded by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), which proposed amending the Honest Labor Requirements Act to shorten the usual workweek by eight hours for non-exempt workers. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) unveiled an analogous invoice within the higher chamber final 12 months, however obtained pushback from his GOP colleagues.
The Hill has reached out to the Congressional Progressive Employees Affiliation for extra info.
