A group of progressive staffers is urging Congress to adopt a rotating 32-hour workweek for better work-life balance and productivity.
The whole idea is that a shorter workweek could make staff happier and more productive. In an open letter, the Congressional Progressive Staff Association is pushing for a “rotating” 32-hour workweek for staff. They believe it could help with retention and improve everyone’s quality of life.
Congress has a pretty unique schedule. When lawmakers are in session, they’re busy in Washington, but when they’re back in their districts, they’re meeting with constituents. The proposal suggests that staff in DC would work 32 hours when lawmakers are in their districts, and vice versa.
They’ve even tossed around a few ideas on how this could work, like having everyone work four days a week or staggering hours to keep the office running all week. The letter emphasizes that working fewer hours could actually help staff get their tasks done more efficiently.
Michael Suchecki, a spokesperson for the staff association, mentioned that this isn’t just about perks for Congress staff. It’s about setting a standard for workers everywhere. They want to tackle burnout and high turnover rates, which are common since many staffers can find better-paying jobs with less stress in the private sector.
Suchecki pointed out that Congress needs to attract and keep top talent, especially since turnover is so high in this field. Interestingly, some lawmakers have even proposed a nationwide 32-hour workweek, like the “Thirty Two Hour Workweek Act” introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders last year. It’s definitely a conversation worth having!
