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One to Keep An Eye On: Workflex in the 21st Century Act


As with many employment and labor law related cases (and bills) being litigated around the country, there are always a few that stand out.

This is one to keep an eye on.


Last week, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing to consider the Workflex in the 21st Century Act, a paid leave bill currently working its way through Congress.  The Committee, controlled by Republicans, have given proponents of this bill some hope that it will pass...as Republicans can choose what bills to send to Committee (and which bills to not, which often results in the bill dying.) 

The bill, sponsored by Representative Mimi Walters (a Democrat from California) would exempt companies from state and local paid leave laws if these employers meet a minimum set of federal paid leave standards and flexible work requirements.  One executive that testified at the hearing, Barbara Brickmeier of IBM suggested that passage of this bill would gives businesses relief from local paid leave laws which are a "complex obstacle course for employers."

While Republicans on the Committee appear to be backing the bill, several Democrats have argued that it is nothing more than a gift to employers.  Some Democrats have gone as far as to suggest that passage of this bill could set back a federal paid leave mandate by undermining laws in left leaning states and cities.  Although it is certainly possible that the Workflex in the 21st Century Act will make it out of Committee (assuming the Republican controlled Committee votes along party lines), this one might have a tougher go before the full House and Senate.


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