this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2026
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I used to travel regularly to Germany, spains and France, for instance work on production sites and equipment there. The standard legal working week currently in France is 35 hours. Currently data shows on average US workers work 34 hours a week. To be honest, it’s not that far off from the 32 hours Sanders is suggesting in his legislation he is coauthoring
You're missing an important distinction, though: in the US, health benefits are tied to full-time employment, and most places consider anything under 35 to be part-time. I've had several jobs that would force me to clock off if I was at risk of hitting that full-time threshold. I had times where I was struggling to make ends meet, but they wouldn't let me work more. And, at least in my state, if you take on a second job, wages from the second job are taxed at a higher rate.
So 34 American hours and the benefits associated are very different from 35 French hours. Codifying the threshold for full-time employment at 32 hours instead will only benefit white collar workers. Everyone else will just get their hours cut even further and be driven further into poverty.
Basically, we really, really need to fix American healthcare before anything else, because until we're on a single-payer system, most changes to labor law will fuck the most at-risk populations.
Very good points. Yes indeed that is a very important distinction. I agree 100% that the US healthcare system and its current for profit system needs to be fixed!
that doesn't sound right...
the suggested withholding on second (or third) jobs is higher to make up for the fact that your first job's withholding is usually based on it being your only income source. in the end, you're taxed on your combined income, one job or three, it doesn't matter.
The issue is that you have to work 38 to 40 hours a week to get full time benefits, so most Americans aren't getting healthcare or vacation days at that level of employment, as they are considered "part time workers."
Tying healthcare to employment in the first place needs to end.
It literally says for the same pay and benefits. You didn't even have to read the article.
I was responding to the comment, not the article
The comment you responded to is referring to the article.
That’s true, a very good point!
Denmark made the 32-hour workweek standard and their GDP went up. The fact that other countries aren’t following suit is proof that the capitalists don’t even follow their own statistical models.
Uh, no we didn't. I wish we did, though.
Every once in a while, some politician brings it up, but 37 hours is still the default.
Did you think to ask/wonder why it's exactly 1hr below 35?