Congressman Holding Votes to Support Flexibility for Working Parents

For Immediate Release: May 8, 2013

Contact: Lindsay Hamilton, 202-225-3032

 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the passage of H.R. 1406, the “Working Families Flexibility Act”, Congressman George Holding released a statement:

 

“Every day, hardworking men and women have to balance their work and home lives, and the legislation passed today gives working parents more flexibility to spend time with their children and families. Since the enactment of labor laws in the 1930s, the workforce and the individual worker have changed significantly. More parents are working than ever before – and nowadays, parents who want to attend their children’s school events or take their sick kids to the doctor during business hours do not have much flexibility to take off work.

 

The Working Families Flexibility Act updates the law to meet the needs of the 21st century workforce and allows employers to offer private-sector employees the choice of paid time off in lieu of cash wages for overtime hours worked. This will allow for more parents to attend teacher conferences, soccer games and dance recitals, care for aging parents, and better tend to last-minute family emergencies. This bill modernizes an outdated federal mandate, giving working parents more control of their time – this commonsense legislation will help American workers better balance the needs of their families and the workplace.”

 

Background: H.R. 1406, the “Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013” passed the House by a vote of 223 yeas to 204 nays on May 8, 2013. The legislation, sponsored by Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-Ariz.), gives private-sector workers the same benefit that public-sector employees have enjoyed for almost 30 years. H.R. 1406 allows employees to offer a choice between cash wages and comp time for overtime hours. Employees who want to receive cash wages would continue to do so, and no employee can be forced to take comp time instead of receiving overtime pay. The decision to receive comp time is completely voluntary, and it is up to the employee to decide when to use his or her comp time. Congressman Holding is one of 168 cosponsors of the bill, including the chairs of every House committee.