{"bills":[{"photos":{"featured":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr4219-115/featured_workflex-in-the-21st-century-act-1532710679.jpg","featured_large":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr4219-115/featured_large_workflex-in-the-21st-century-act-1532710679.jpg","shareable":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/hr4219-115.png"},"introduced_on":"2017-11-02","title_override":"Should Businesses be Encouraged to Offer “Workflex” Plans With Paid Leave & Flexible Work Options?","summary_override":"

This bill — the Workflex in the 21st Century Act — would establish a voluntary workflex option that'd exempt employers who provide flexible workplace arrangement plans that combine paid leave and flexible work options from certain state and local employee benefit laws. It’d require that such “workflex” plans provide full- and part-time employees with a minimum amount of paid leave ranging between 12-20 days annually depending on the size of the employer and the employee’s tenure. Further, it’d require that paid leave be paired with flexible work options such as telework or flexible scheduling, a complete list of which can be found below.

Workflex plans would have to provide employees with at least one of the following options:

A biweekly work program;
A compressed work schedule;
A telework program;
A job sharing program;
Flexible scheduling;
Predictable scheduling.

Employees wouldn’t be required to adopt a flexible work schedule to receive paid leave. All employees would receive paid leave even if they don’t adopt a flexible work schedule.

Employers who don’t comply with the terms of the bill would have to comply state & local benefits laws, and could face penalties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act for non-compliance.

","official_title":"To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to include a voluntary option for qualified flexible workplace arrangements.","short_title":"Workflex in the 21st Century Act","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"Workflex in the 21st Century Act \n\nThis bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish a voluntary workflex option under which employers who provide flexible workplace arrangement plans that include a combination of paid leave and flexible work options are exempt from certain state and local laws regarding employee benefits.\n\nA flexible workplace arrangement plan must provide all employees with a minimum amount of paid leave per year that ranges from 12-20 days, depending on the size of the employer and the tenure of the employee.\n\nThe plan must also provide employees that meet certain service requirements with at least one of the following flexible work options:\n\n a biweekly work program, a compressed work schedule, a telework program, a job sharing program, flexible scheduling, or predictable scheduling. The bill also specifies various requirements for paid leave and the flexible work options.","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.","impact":"Employees; employers; businesses; and state and local governments.","argument_for":"This bill is a win-win for workers and businesses — it gives all workers whose employers offer “workflex” plans more guaranteed paid leave than any state law plus flexible work arrangements, without imposing a costly mandate on businesses.","argument_against":"Businesses shouldn’t get a break from local employment benefits laws for offering “workflex” plans with paid leave & flexible work options. The federal government should mandate that all businesses provide paid leave.","bill_type":"hr","published":true,"type":"FederalBill","id":"hr4219-115","bill_id":"hr4219-115","formal_id":"H.R. 4219","chamber":"house","congress":115,"last_action_at":"2018-07-24T00:00:00.000Z","active":true,"enacted":false,"enacted_at":null,"vetoed":false,"last_vote_at":null,"debated_on":null,"congress_url":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th/house-bill/4219","plain_text_url":"https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-115hr4219ih/html/BILLS-115hr4219ih.htm","shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/hr4219-115.png","congress_full_text_url":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th/house-bill/4219/text","is_current_congress":false,"last_version_on":"2017-11-02","related_bill_ids":[],"progress":"Introduced","house_passage_result":false,"senate_passage_result":false,"position_count":214,"committees":[{"name":"Committee on Education and Labor","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSED","subcommittee":false}],"links":{"rollCalls":"/api/roll_calls?bill_id=hr4219-115","details":"/api/bills/hr4219-115/details","sharingMessage":"/api/sharing_messages/hr4219-115","positionsFor":"/api/bills/hr4219-115/positions/for","positionsAgainst":"/api/bills/hr4219-115/positions/against"},"upcoming":false,"cosponsors_count":4,"slug":"hr4219-115-workflex-in-the-21st-century-act","latest_chamber_votes_id":null,"official_url":null,"target_video":true,"following":false,"vote_count":1483,"yea_vote_count":961,"nay_vote_count":513,"passed_house":false,"passed_senate":false,"vote_id":null,"my_position_id":null,"topic_ids":["work","economy","government","health","families"],"issue_ids":["work","business","longevity","federal-agencies","economy","government","aging","health","states","small-business","children","families"],"sponsor_id":29}],"votes":[],"issues":[{"id":"work","name":"Work","slug":"work","description":null,"page_title":null,"icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/work/black_work-1429042040.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/work/grey_work-1429042040.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/work/white_work-1429042040.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"business","name":"Business","slug":"business","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding Business. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about. ","page_title":"Business Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/business/black_business-1429042053.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/business/grey_business-1429042053.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/business/white_business-1429042053.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"longevity","name":"Longevity","slug":"longevity","description":"Take action: Longevity","page_title":"Countable Issue Action Center: Longevity","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/longevity/black_longevity-1522112938.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/longevity/grey_longevity-1522112938.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/longevity/white_longevity-1522112938.svg"},"cover_image_url":"","is_following":false},{"id":"federal-agencies","name":"Federal Agencies","slug":"federal-agencies","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding Federal Agencies. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about. \r\n","page_title":"Federal Agencies Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/federal-agencies/black_federal-agencies-1429042054.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/federal-agencies/grey_federal-agencies-1429042054.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/federal-agencies/white_federal-agencies-1429042054.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"economy","name":"Economy","slug":"economy","description":"The US Economy is heavily impacted by Federal legislation. Here you can find bills encompassing US monetary policy, the US Federal Budget, overall government spending, appropriations and how we handle the US federal debt and state finances. ","page_title":"Legislation related to the US Economy, monetary policy, the federal budget and government spending - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/economy/black_economy-1429042041.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/economy/grey_economy-1429042041.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/economy/white_economy-1429042041.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"government","name":"Government","slug":"government","description":"Federal legislation related to the operations of the US Federal Government. Bills can encompass government administration, regulation of political parties, the US postal service, US territories and public contracts.","page_title":"US Government - Federal legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/government/black_government-1453508811.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/government/grey_government-1453508811.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/government/white_government-1453508811.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"aging","name":"Aging","slug":"aging","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding Aging. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about.\r\n","page_title":"Aging Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/aging/black_aging-1432751641.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/aging/grey_aging-1432751641.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/aging/white_aging-1432751641.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"health","name":"Health","slug":"health","description":"Federal legislation around Health, encompassing: the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Research into diseases (Cancer, HIV/Aids, Ebola), Drug safety, Hospital care and prescription drugs.","page_title":"Health Related US Federal legislation, including Medicare, ACA, and research - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/health/black_health-1429042037.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/health/grey_health-1429042037.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/health/white_health-1429042037.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"states","name":"States","slug":"states","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding States. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about. \r\n","page_title":"States Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/states/black_states-1453508817.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/states/grey_states-1453508817.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/states/white_states-1453508817.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"small-business","name":"Small Business","slug":"small-business","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding Small Business. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about. \r\n","page_title":"Small Business Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/small-business/black_small-business-1429042069.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/small-business/grey_small-business-1429042069.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/small-business/white_small-business-1429042069.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"children","name":"Children","slug":"children","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding Children. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about.\r\n","page_title":"Children Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/children/black_children-1429042067.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/children/grey_children-1429042067.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/children/white_children-1429042067.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"families","name":"Families","slug":"families","description":"Congressional legislation related to Families encompassing a wide variety of potential subjects, including: adoption child care, child safety, domestic violence and abuse, marriage, divorce and teenage pregnancy.","page_title":"Federal legislation related to Families - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/families/black_families-1429042038.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/families/grey_families-1429042038.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/families/white_families-1429042038.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false}],"users":[{"name":"MattWayne","vote_count":244,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/1873310372882563/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/1873310372882563/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/1873310372882563/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/1873310372882563/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/gZA6GR0m/following","followers":"/api/users/gZA6GR0m/followers"},"about_me":"I claim no titles, outside the boxes, am free, happy, and friendly. Don't mess with my country...:)","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"mattwayne","issue_count":2,"is_following":null,"influence_score":700,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":15,"following_count":4,"position_count":140,"id":"gZA6GR0m","partner_id":null},{"name":"operaman","vote_count":1709,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/1027148173971007/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/1027148173971007/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/1027148173971007/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/1027148173971007/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/5mbagjNZ/following","followers":"/api/users/5mbagjNZ/followers"},"about_me":"Christian-Husband(51yr)-Father-Retired Pharmacist-2A-Conservative #KAG #RedNationRising #Faith #anti-illegal immigration #Opera","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"operaman","issue_count":11,"is_following":null,"influence_score":62675,"influence_level":40,"follower_count":614,"following_count":928,"position_count":1236,"id":"5mbagjNZ","partner_id":null},{"name":"ManfromNebraska","vote_count":466,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/BZe7DYq9/large_bze7dyq9-1544809772.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/BZe7DYq9/small_bze7dyq9-1544809772.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/BZe7DYq9/tiny_bze7dyq9-1544809772.jpg"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/BZe7DYq9/following","followers":"/api/users/BZe7DYq9/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"manfromnebraska","issue_count":28,"is_following":null,"influence_score":4850,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":151,"following_count":121,"position_count":470,"id":"BZe7DYq9","partner_id":null},{"name":"Chris","vote_count":138,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/OWlpV7EW/following","followers":"/api/users/OWlpV7EW/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":92,"is_following":null,"influence_score":870,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":5,"following_count":4,"position_count":89,"id":"OWlpV7EW","partner_id":null},{"name":"Michael","vote_count":299,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/Lm4beJMW/following","followers":"/api/users/Lm4beJMW/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":"Mdrapp.hotmail.com","youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":17,"is_following":null,"influence_score":520,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":15,"following_count":5,"position_count":169,"id":"Lm4beJMW","partner_id":null}],"bill_position":{"flagged":false,"id":"5fa98b54-6729-4982-9877-4f558b2d184e","argument_for":null,"argument_against":"Encouraging is one thing, but why even vote on hiw a business decides to manage itself? This is a capitalist economy, thats how we are the strongest economy in history. Don't let anyone, ever tell another how to manage their business...","show_argument_for":false,"show_argument_against":true,"upvote_count":4,"upvotes_for_count":null,"upvotes_against_count":4,"has_upvoted":false,"endorsement_count":4,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/positions/5fa98b54-6729-4982-9877-4f558b2d184e"},"body":"Encouraging is one thing, but why even vote on hiw a business decides to manage itself? This is a capitalist economy, thats how we are the strongest economy in history. Don't let anyone, ever tell another how to manage their business...","stance":"nay","created_at":"2018-08-01T00:01:49.467Z","shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/positions/5fa98b54-6729-4982-9877-4f558b2d184e.png","note_color":null,"note_text":null,"bill_id":"hr4219-115","user_id":"gZA6GR0m","endorser_ids":["5mbagjNZ","BZe7DYq9","OWlpV7EW","Lm4beJMW"]}}

Like Causes?

MattWayne

Should Businesses be Encouraged to Offer “Workflex” Plans With Paid Leave & Flexible Work Options?