A progressive staffer organization on Capitol Hill withdrew its letter calling on members of Congress to switch to a 32-hour workweek after backlash from both sides of the aisle.
The Congressional Progressive Staff Association sent out a release Friday stating the group “hereby withdraws its recent letter to congressional leadership on a rotating 32-hour workweek.”
“The letter failed to make two things clear: First, that progressive congressional staff are dedicated to serving the American people no matter how many hours it takes to get the job done,” the release stated. “Second, that there are well-known, longstanding workplace issues that deserve Congress’s immediate attention if it wishes to effectively serve the people.”
“There are myriad ways Congress can address these issues. Right now, a 32-hour workweek for staff will not be one of them,” the staffers added.
The letter, sent yesterday, said a switch from a 48-hour workweek to a 32-hour week would increase staff retention, prevent burnout, and serve as a national model.
The association received severe backlash from Republicans and Democrats. Those in GOP and Democratic circles, including lawmakers, criticized the progressive organization for being lazy, ungrateful, and tone-deaf, especially after the letter called the role of a congressional staffer can be “demanding and intensive.”
“Whether by drafting and analyzing legislation, meeting with impassioned advocates, communicating with constituents and the media, or smoothly administering office operations, D.C. staff are often required to manage a cascade of sensitive and challenging projects at any given time,” the association wrote. “Staffers routinely work long hours at a level of rigor that regularly leads to burnout.”
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The association said the intensive work would lead to staffers seeking new positions “earlier than they would in a more predictable and sustainable work environment.” The group, formed in 2021, currently has a membership of over 1,500 that advocates the progressive movement and employees on Capitol Hill.
However, some Democratic staffers blasted the idea as idiotic, with many noting that the association does not speak for the “vast majority of Democratic staff, who proudly work long hours for little pay because we are genuinely trying to make a positive difference.”
