- Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the Guaranteed Paid Vacation Act on August sixth, twenty twenty-six, for all full-time workers.
- The legislation mandates a ten-day annual floor for paid leave, accruing at one hour per twenty-five hours worked.
- Proponents estimate the bill would provide new benefits to thirty-three million workers currently without paid vacation time.
Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation August 6, 2026, that would require employers to provide full-time workers with two weeks of paid vacation each year. The bill has been referred to the Senate HELP Committee.
Workers would accrue paid leave at a rate of one hour for every 25 hours worked. They could use the time for any reason and receive their standard rate of pay.
The proposal also would bar employers from discriminating against or retaliating against workers who take annual leave. The protection would apply to workers using the benefit the bill creates.
Sanders, an independent from Vermont and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, said the measure would address the country’s lack of a federal vacation guarantee.
“It is beyond unacceptable that in the year 2026, the United States remains the only major country on Earth not to guarantee paid vacation time to workers. This legislation would put an end to that international embarrassment.”
The measure, called the Guaranteed Paid Vacation Act, marks Sanders’ latest effort to establish a national paid-vacation standard. He introduced a similar proposal in March 2024, but it failed to advance in a divided Congress.
Sens. Chris Murphy, Ed Markey, Ruben Gallego, and Alex Padilla are cosponsors. Rep. Seth Magaziner introduced companion legislation in the House with 86 members of the House of Representatives.
Magaziner said workers should be able to take time away from their jobs without losing income.
“Every worker in America deserves the chance to rest, recharge, and spend time with the people they love without worrying about missing a paycheck.”
The bill would set a 10-day annual floor
The proposal would guarantee full-time employees at least two weeks, or 10 days, of paid annual leave each year. Its accrual formula would tie the benefit to hours worked.
Employees could use the leave for any reason. The bill would require payment at the worker’s standard rate of pay.
The vacation benefit would not replace other leave programs. It would come in addition to paid sick leave and family and medical leave already provided under federal or state law.
Employers could not discriminate or retaliate against workers for taking annual paid leave. The bill would protect the right to use the time without requiring a particular reason.
Estimates put the uncovered workforce at up to 33 million
Estimates cited by proponents place the number of private-sector workers without paid vacation at roughly 27 million to 33 million, or approximately one in five workers. The figures describe the workforce the proposal is intended to reach.
Supporters also compare the United States with 25 OECD countries that require at least 20 paid days off. The proposed U.S. floor would be lower than the annual minimums cited for several other countries.
| Country or group | Paid days off required |
|---|---|
| 25 OECD countries | At least 20 days |
| United Kingdom | 28 days |
| France | 25 days |
| Sweden | 25 days |
The international comparison comes from material cited by supporters of the bill. Sanders used the comparison in arguing for a federal requirement.
Supporters cite polling showing broad public backing for paid time off. A recent poll cited in the research found 79% of Americans support the act, while a RAND Corporation poll found 90% support for legislation requiring earned time off.
| Party affiliation | Support for two weeks of paid vacation |
|---|---|
| Republicans | 81% |
| Independents | 83% |
| Democrats | 84% |
Those figures indicate support across party affiliations. They do not change the bill’s status in Congress.
The House measure carries 86 members
Magaziner’s companion measure is often referred to as the Protected Time Off (PTO) Act. Reps. Nikki Budzinski, Greg Casar, and Jasmine Crockett are among its 86 members.
Budzinski linked the proposal to worker compensation and corporate earnings.
“Every day, American workers are generating record corporate profits. we can’t continue to shortchange them in the paid time off they deserve.”
The House effort forms part of the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ “New Affordability Agenda,” released in early 2026. Supporters say a national rule could reduce differences among state requirements.
More than 50 new workplace laws took effect across various states by early 2026. Minnesota, Delaware, and Maine expanded Paid Family and Medical Leave programs during that period.
Those programs address family and medical leave. Sanders’ bill would create a separate annual-vacation entitlement.
Labor groups support the mandate as business groups resist it
The AFL-CIO, SEIU, NAACP, Economic Policy Institute, MomsRising, and National Partnership for Women and Families endorse the legislation. Their support places major labor and worker-advocacy organizations behind a federal paid-vacation floor.
The National Federation of Independent Business has historically opposed federal leave mandates, citing “burdensome regulations” and “increased labor costs.” Small businesses, the group argues, would bear a disproportionate share of those costs.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also historically opposed federal leave mandates. The opposition centers on the effect of federally required leave on employers.
Some Republicans have supported the Working Families Flexibility Act. That proposal would let employers offer paid time off in lieu of overtime cash wages.
Democrats generally oppose that approach as a “pay cut.” It would not establish the same guaranteed annual-vacation entitlement as Sanders’ bill.
The competing proposals take different approaches to paid time. Sanders’ measure would require leave to accrue under a fixed hourly formula.
The proposal awaits action in the Senate
As of August 6, 2026, the bill has been referred to the Senate HELP Committee. The House companion has been introduced with 86 members.
The proposed vacation time would remain separate from paid sick leave and family and medical leave. Workers would be able to use it for any reason if Congress advances the measure.
The legislation would establish a federal floor rather than limit employers from providing additional paid time off. Its next step is consideration in the committee to which Sanders’ bill was referred.
