Progressive Congressional Staffers Withdraw 32-Hour Workweek Proposal After Backlash

The proposal, intended to address burnout and improve retention, faced bipartisan criticism and was quickly rescinded.

The Congressional Progressive Staff Association (CPSA) proposed a rotating 32-hour workweek, citing benefits like increased productivity and reduced burnout.
The plan outlined shorter workweeks for Washington-based staff during district work periods and for district staff while Congress is in session, with no reduction in pay.
Lawmakers and political figures from both parties criticized the proposal, calling it tone-deaf and impractical, with some suggesting it undermines public service values.
Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, both prominent progressives, expressed differing views, with Sanders supporting a national 32-hour week and Warren dismissing the staffers' request as a 'terrible idea.'
The CPSA withdrew the proposal the day after its release, emphasizing their commitment to serving the public and addressing broader workplace issues in Congress.