Democrats argue artificial intelligence and automation justify shorter work week | Wilnesh News

Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats on Thursday cited advances in artificial intelligence and automation as they debated a bill to mandate a 32-hour federal work week.

“Despite huge increases in technology and worker productivity, millions of workers in our country are working longer hours for lower wages,” Sanders said after knocking off the hearing. senate committee On health, education, labor and pensions.

“The sad reality is that Americans now work longer hours than people in any other wealthy country,” the committee’s chairman, a Vermont independent, said later.

this bill Sanders and Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., have proposed reducing the standard work week from 40 hours to 32 hours over four years.

Employers must pay overtime to non-exempt employees, which is 1.5 times the hourly rate for hours worked in excess of 8 hours per day and 2 times the hourly rate for hours worked in excess of 12 hours per day.

The bill would also ensure that total weekly wages are not reduced due to a reduction in total hours worked.

Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., has introduced a similar bill in the House.

These bills come after business leaders such as JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates Predictions: People will be able to work three days a week within a few decades thanks to innovations in artificial intelligence and automation.

Sanders and Democrats said at Thursday’s hearing that reducing the work week would give people more time with their families and hobbies.

“A lot of people find value at work, and I’m glad they do, but a lot of people find even more value in the institutions and social clubs and churches that they’re affiliated with and spend time with outside of work,” Mori said. ” Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

Republicans slammed the plan, saying the mandate would destroy small businesses and hurt industries like retail stores that need to stay open six or more days a week.

“This will be napalm on the fire of inflation,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the committee’s ranking Republican.

“I really don’t agree with doing anything in this place that would impose on hundreds of businesses that I don’t think can survive,” said Indiana Sen. Mike Braun, another Republican on the panel. “

Boston College sociology professor Juliet Schor testified before the committee that her research shows that hourly productivity increases for both workers and management as a result of a four-day, 32-hour work week. Shore said her research also found an increase in employee happiness outside the office.

Jon Leland, chief strategist at crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, confirmed that his company’s goal achievement and employee retention rates increased significantly after implementing a four-day work week.

“People want to work, but they want to work in a way that’s balanced with the rest of their lives,” Leland told the group.

But another witness, Liberty Vittert, disputed research finding that a shorter work week increases productivity. Over time, these productivity gains disappear, Witt said.

“We don’t know yet what capabilities artificial intelligence will give us,” said Witte, a professor of the practice of data science at Washington University in St. Louis.

Cassidy suggested holding hearings on the impact of artificial intelligence on the economy.

But he also said advances in the technology were unlikely to allow most workers to work fewer hours.

“A mom-and-pop restaurant doesn’t really see the productivity gains from artificial intelligence,” Cassidy said.

“They’re having a hard time finding enough people to fill shifts.”