Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain have been loud advocates for the 32-hour work week. Sanders introduced legislation to implement the measure nationally, and Fain demanded it from automakers during labor-contract negotiations last year. He failed to win that argument in negotiations, and Sanders’s bill isn’t going anywhere.

Even they know their own idea is silly, because they expect their own employees to work more than 32 hours a week.

Jarrett Skorup of the Mackinac Center wrote on April 27:

At the time of this writing, the UAW has several career opportunities available. Nearly all the full-time jobs note that these are “Monday to Friday” for an “8-hour shift.” In other words, if you want to work for the United Auto Workers, you better be ready to work five days a week for at least 40 hours.

As for Sen. Sanders, his public job applications are vague about how many actual workdays and hours he requires from his employees. But it’s notable that recent reviews from staff members frequently cite “long hours” and “long workweeks” among the cons of working for him. It’s not uncommon for Capitol Hill offices to have 40-, 50- or even 60-hour workweeks.

To be clear, those UAW jobs are with the union itself; they’re not jobs with automakers covered by UAW contracts. (Also included on the UAW hiring web page: “The UAW is dedicated to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that our collective strength is amplified when all voices are represented. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.”)

And obviously, congressional staffers work long hours. They all do. Even when their job is to push talking points from their boss about how other people’s employees should have 32-hour work weeks.