March 20, 2024

NEW POLL: Rep. Takano’s 32-Hour Workweek Bill Popular with Likely Voters

WASHINGTON, D.C. – New independent polling from Data for Progress shows that 57% of likely voters support legislation to transition the U.S. from a 40-hour workweek to a 32-hour workweek. The polling comes on the heels of Congressman Mark Takano’s (CA-39) Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act gaining fresh momentum with Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) introduction of a Senate companion bill last week.

Key poll takeaways:

·         Independents are onboard, backing the proposal by 58%-31%.

·         Republicans show an openness to a 32-hour workweek, disapproving by only 44%-49%.

·         Almost no education gap as likely voters both with a college degree (60%) and without a college degree (56%) support the legislation.

·         Wildly popular with under 45-year-olds (68%), but also still retains majority support with over 45-year-olds (51%).

Survey details: fielded between March 15-17, sampled 1,196 likely voters nationally, has a margin of error of ± 3%, and presented a balanced message test of a 32-hour workweek bill.

Legislation details: Rep. Takano’s Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act would reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and lowering the maximum hours threshold for overtime compensation for non-exempt employees. 

The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act does not make any changes or limit the number of hours that an employee may work in a standard workweek but amends the definition of the workweek in federal law. The majority of workers impacted would be non-exempt, hourly workers, but some salaried workers fall under the scope of the bill’s provisions. This legislation has the potential to increase wage-earning opportunities for a larger number of workers by limiting the number of hours required to reach the full-time threshold, as well as allow for better work-life balance and overall health outcomes.  

Full text of the House version of the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act is available here. A one pager can be found here.