BERNIE SANDERS CLAIM ABOUT PEOPLE WORKING 60 HOURS A WEEK JUST TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE? MOSTLY FALSE. “Fortunately, the gruelingly long workweek described by Sanders is not the norm. In fact, leisure time has been on the rise. In 1950, an average U.S. worker worked 1,984 hours a year, or about 38 hours a week. In 2015, an average American worker worked 1,767 hours, or about 34 hours a week.” And, unlike 1950, we have an obesity problem now, suggesting that plenty of food is getting to the table. Or, at least, the couch in front of the TV.