Freshman Rep. Haaland Introduces Bill to Incentivize Family-Friendly Workplaces

August 23, 2019 by Sean Trambley
Freshman Rep. Haaland Introduces Bill to Incentivize Family-Friendly Workplaces

In July, freshman Representative Deb Haaland, D-N.M., was joined by a dozen colleagues to introduce important legislation aimed at supporting family-friendly workplaces and incentivizing businesses to implement family-friendly policies for their workers. 

H.R. 3838, the Honoring Family Friendly Workplaces Act, would create a Department of Labor certification program that recognizes exemplary family-friendly businesses by promoting best practices, incentivizing businesses to adapt to the realities of working parents’ lives and helping employees to evaluate potential employers. 

The certification program introduced in the Honoring Family Friendly Workplaces Act is modeled after the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program which helps consumers identify energy-efficient products and evaluates businesses on a number of policies. 

If signed into law, businesses will be evaluated on their policies including:

  • Paid sick days for workers;
  • Child care assistance;
  • Support for breastfeeding mothers; 
  • Reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers;
  • Accommodations for families seeking fertility treatment or adoption services;
  • Paid family leave of at least 12 weeks and flexible hours once parents return to work after a birth, adoption, or foster care placement. 

By promoting progressive workplace reform, the bill helps to advance the rights of women, improves the well-being of children and families, and aids businesses in getting the most out of their employees. 

“Our parents deserve workplaces that value family just as much as they do, but right now the people-over-profits mentality makes it difficult for many to both support their family financially and care for their family,” Rep. Haaland said. “As a single Mom, I know the challenges that working parents face every day, and the federal government needs to do more to promote positive changes in our workplaces. That’s why we’re introducing a program that will nudge businesses to do the right thing to improve the lives of our families.”

Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, commended Haaland for introducing the Act, noting that employers that adopt family-friendly policies “improve the lives of their employees, raise the bar for industry standards and promote better state and federal policies.”

She went on to say that it is particularly important that the act recognizes companies that provide critical workplace supports like paid family and medical leave and paid sick days. 

“These benefits are worthwhile investments that improve the lives of employees and employers as well as families and communities,” Ness said. 

Cosponsors include Representatives Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., Grace Napolitano, D-Ca., José E. Serrano, D-N.Y., Donald M. Payne D-N.J., Nanette Diaz Barragán, D-Ca., André Carson, D-Ind., Julia Brownley, D-Ca., Alcee L. Hastings, D-Fla., Bobby Rush, D-Ill., Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Ca., Salud Carbajal, D-Ca., and Grace Meng, D-N.Y.
The full bill text is available here.

A+
a-
  • Deb Haaland
  • Employment
  • family-friendly workplaces
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Employment

    March 25, 2024
    by Jesse Zucker
    What Happens During Burnout and How to Cope

    WASHINGTON — Many of us, from time to time, may feel a little “burned out.” Spreading ourselves too thin with... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Many of us, from time to time, may feel a little “burned out.” Spreading ourselves too thin with work, family, relationships, health and other obligations can take its toll. The term burnout is technically a psychological condition related to the workplace. Since COVID-19 began,... Read More

    Trump Wants to Fire Thousands of Government Workers. Liberals Are Preparing to Fight Back if He Wins

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has plans to radically reshape the federal government if he returns to the White House, from promising... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has plans to radically reshape the federal government if he returns to the White House, from promising to deport millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally to abolishing government agencies and firing tens of thousands of workers and replacing them with loyalists. Liberal organizations in... Read More

    Inflation Slowed Further in December as Economic 'Soft Landing' Moves Into Sharper Focus

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge cooled further last month even as the economy kept growing briskly, a... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge cooled further last month even as the economy kept growing briskly, a trend sure to be welcomed at the White House as President Joe Biden seeks re-election in a race that could pivot on his economic stewardship. Friday’s... Read More

    December 22, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    President Signs Order Giving Civilian Fed Workers 5.2% Raise

    WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday signed an executive order fulfilling his promise to provide civilian federal workers with... Read More

    WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday signed an executive order fulfilling his promise to provide civilian federal workers with an average 5.2% pay raise starting in mid-January. Biden had proposed the bump in salaries in the 2024 budget proposal he released last March. According to... Read More

    In Milwaukee, Biden Looks to Highlight Progress for Black-Owned Small Businesses

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is aiming to use a visit to the battleground state of Wisconsin on Wednesday... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is aiming to use a visit to the battleground state of Wisconsin on Wednesday to spotlight a surge in federal government support for Black-owned small businesses during his White House tenure and to highlight his administration's efforts to ramp up... Read More

    December 6, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Greene Seeks to Reinstate Pilots Fired Due to COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has introduced legislation in the House aimed at reinstating pilots who were fired... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has introduced legislation in the House aimed at reinstating pilots who were fired or forced to resign due to COVID-19 vaccination mandates. A companion bill is being sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan. While there is... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top