Bernie Sanders backs a 32-hour work week as a German employer pushes to expand to 40 hours — what the data says

Senators Bernie Sanders and German employer Stihl have proposed differing work week lengths, with Sanders advocating for a 32-hour work week and Stihl supporting a 40-hour work week. The 40-hour work week was established in the United States through labor union efforts in the 1930s, while Germany's 35-hour work week for metalworkers emerged from a 1995 six-and-a-half week strike.

Both proposals aim to maintain worker pay while adjusting the length of the work week. Research suggests that a four-day work week could lead to improved employee well-being, increased retention, and easier recruitment, but forcing longer work hours without increased pay may negatively impact employee morale and productivity.