Is there a 4-day week in United States?
No. The United States has no national four-day week, and no law gives workers a right to one. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets no limit on weekly hours for employees aged 16 and over and, unless an employee is specifically exempted, requires overtime pay for hours over 40 in a workweek, so a 32-hour schedule is an employer's choice.
In Congress, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Mark Takano's Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act was introduced in September 2026 as H.R. 10323 and S. 5384. It would lower the overtime threshold in steps (38, 36, 34, then 32 hours) from at least 180 days after enactment, and add overtime after eight hours in a day. Both bills were referred to committee. In New York, S5629 would make 32 hours a legal week's work and S9443 would create a four-day-week pilot for state employees; both were referred to Senate committees and have not advanced.
Some employers try it voluntarily. In 4 Day Week Global's US and Canada pilot, 41 companies ran a six-month trial; the organiser reported that none planned to return to five days, that revenue rose 15% on average, and that 69% of employees reported reduced burnout (a reported share). A peer-reviewed study of 2,896 employees at 141 organizations in six countries, including the US, found improvements in burnout, job satisfaction and health that 12 control companies did not show.
Caveat: participating companies chose to join, and the US figures come from the pilot's organiser.
Latest developments
Sanders and Takano reintroduce the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act
The bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act so overtime starts after 32 hours instead of 40; the sponsors' release describes it as covering non-exempt employees. Rep. Takano first introduced it in 2021.
Rep. Takano and Sen. Sanders reintroduce the 32 Hour Workweek Act (opens in new tab)New York Senate bill S9443 proposes a four-day-week pilot for state employees
The bill would have the budget division and civil service department find state agencies or jobs where a four-day week is feasible. It was referred to the Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee; Assembly companion A5423.
New York State Senate Bill S9443 (2025) (opens in new tab)Nature Human Behaviour publishes four-day-week study including US firms
Researchers analysed 2,896 employees at 141 organizations in six countries, including the US, and reported improvements in burnout, job satisfaction and mental and physical health versus 12 control companies.
PubMed: Work time reduction via a 4-day workweek finds improvements in workers' well-being (opens in new tab)
4-day-week trials in United States
What each pilot reported. Figures are the organiser's own, from the linked report.
4 Day Week Global US and Canada pilot
Run by 4 Day Week Global
- 41 companies
4 Day Week Global reported that 41 US and Canadian companies ran a six-month four-day-week trial and that none planned to return to five days. Average revenue rose 15% over the pilot. The figures come from the organiser's own release.
- revenue
- +15%
Revenue: the organiser reports a 15% average increase during the pilot; the release does not say how many companies supplied revenue figures or how revenue was measured.
- Mental health: 69% of employees reported reduced burnout and about two in five felt less stressed (reported shares, not sizes of change).
Jobs in United States
Billing Analyst
Smartest Energy · Hybrid · Syracuse, NY, USA
4 day week+1 more
Major Gifts (Fundraising) Manager
Run for Something · Remote · USA
4 day week+1 more
Who offers a 4-day week in United States
Merit America
National nonprofit creating flexible career pathways to family-sustaining jobs for working adults without 4-year degrees through accessible training and support.
Signifyd
Optimize Revenue + Automate Orders + Eliminate Fraud
Close
Bootstrapped CRM company on a mission to double sales productivity, offering a 4-day work week option and 100% remote flexibility since 2016.
Run for Something
Recruiting and supporting young, diverse progressives running for local office across the United States since 2017.
Common Future
Black-led network of leaders rebuilding an equitable economy through community power, wealth redistribution, and systemic change across the U.S. and Canada.
California Environmental Voters
California's statewide political organisation building the power to solve the climate crisis — operating on a 4-day, 32-hour week since October 2023.
How United States compares
United States, in rose, against the other countries we cover.
Average weekly hours
18th shortest of 25 countries, 0.9 hours above the median of 37.3.
Netherlands 31.3 to South Africa 42.3
See all 25 countries
| Country | Hours |
|---|---|
| Netherlands | 31.3 |
| Denmark | 33.3 |
| Germany | 34.5 |
| Norway | 34.6 |
| Australia | 35.4 |
| Austria | 35.6 |
| Finland | 35.6 |
| Switzerland | 35.7 |
| Belgium | 36.0 |
| Ireland | 36.0 |
| United Kingdom | 36.3 |
| France | 36.9 |
| Sweden | 37.3 |
| Iceland | 37.4 |
| Japan | 37.5 |
| Spain | 37.5 |
| New Zealand | 37.6 |
| United States | 38.2 |
| Lithuania | 39.0 |
| South Korea | 39.4 |
| Brazil | 39.5 |
| Chile | 39.8 |
| Poland | 39.9 |
| Portugal | 40.0 |
| South Africa | 42.3 |
Usual weekly hours on the main job, all employed people, from the OECD (latest year, 2024 or 2025). It includes part-timers. No comparable figure for: Canada, Philippines, United Arab Emirates.
Statutory paid leave
United States has no national minimum, against a median of 20 days.
United Kingdom 28 to United States None
See all 26 countries
| Country | Days |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 28 |
| Austria | 25 |
| Denmark | 25 |
| Finland | 25 |
| France | 25 |
| Sweden | 25 |
| Iceland | 24 |
| Brazil | 22 |
| Portugal | 22 |
| Spain | 22 |
| Norway | 21 |
| Australia | 20 |
| Belgium | 20 |
| Germany | 20 |
| Ireland | 20 |
| Netherlands | 20 |
| New Zealand | 20 |
| Poland | 20 |
| Switzerland | 20 |
| Chile | 15 |
| South Africa | 15 |
| South Korea | 15 |
| Canada | 10 |
| Japan | 10 |
| Philippines | 5 |
| United States | None |
The legal minimum a year, in working days on a five-day week, before public holidays. Definitions differ: some countries set weeks or calendar days (converted here), the UK lets public holidays count and the United States has no national minimum. Each country page says what its number covers. No comparable figure for: Lithuania, United Arab Emirates.
Working in United States
Working hours
US employees work 38.2 hours a week on average (OECD, usual weekly hours, 2025). The FLSA sets no limit on weekly hours for employees aged 16 and over. The FLSA requires overtime at not less than time and a half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, for the employees it covers.
Paid leave and holidays
The Department of Labor says the FLSA does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations, sick leave or federal or other holidays; these benefits are matters of agreement between an employer and an employee.
Remote work
In September 2026, 21.9% of employed people aged 16 and over who were at work teleworked or worked at home for pay (Bureau of Labor Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).