Could A 32 Hour Work Week Be Coming To Michigan?

The standard work week model schedule has been around for decades, at the time it was great as it placed guidelines around the way that the work week would be conducted. Before the standard 5-day, 8-hour workday, it was like a madhouse as workers were often working 16-hour shifts or longer in one workday. Life has changed once again, and employees are looking for ways to change the work week as well.

Way back in the early 20th century, Henry Ford introduced his automobile plants to the 5-day work week, which would cap their hours at 40. If extra time would be needed, then they would offer overtime to those who worked the extra hours. Many employees now feel that this has become outdated, and some studies have shown that production improves when employees are rested. Many places have started to propose a 32-hour work week, what are the chances that makes it way to Michigan?

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Michigan hasn't quite started this conversation in a legitimate way, but rumors are starting to swirl of employees wanting more time to rest. So far, Michigan hasn't made any movements to change anything at the state level but after the happenings in the U. S Senate recently, we may be headed in that direction.

U.S Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has proposed a standard 32-hour work week that has gotten the needle moving. Supporters are arguing that technology has vastly improved but the only people benefitting from this has been the corporate officials and not the employees. So, they are asking that employees work 4 8-hour days but remain at the same pay and production level.

This hasn't been the normal conversation surrounding this topic as it has always been 4 workdays that would be 10 hours long, meaning employees would still work 40 hours a week. The new proposal would cut work time by 20% while leaving wages where they currently stand. Some opposers have their worries about how this might affect businesses and the U.S economy.

Opposers main concerns are what businesses will decide to do here in the United States if they were to switch to this model. They are concerned that some companies will either close up shop all together or choose to vacate the United States and open their businesses in countries where labor is cheaper.

There is no timetable set for this program to roll out as it has not officially been introduced as a bill or voted upon. If this were to pass, then it would be implemented over the course of several years and would not be an overnight change. Although there is some pushback, studies in the UK show that companies who have switched to the 32-hour model are still using that model currently.

There are still tons of kinks and barriers to overcome if this bill were to become law, do you think it has a chance? Here are the states that are experiencing the most work burn out.