Honoring Family-Friendly Workplaces Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3838 To direct the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers with a commitment to helping employees balance workplace responsibilities and family obligations. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JULY 18, 2019 Ms. HAALAND (for herself, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. RUSH, Ms. ROYBAL- ALLARD, and Mr. CARBAJAL) introduced the following bill; which was re- ferred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To direct the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers with a commitment to helping employees balance work- place responsibilities and family obligations. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Honoring Family- 4 Friendly Workplaces Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 6 In this Act: 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Jul 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3838.IH H3838 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HR 3838 IH (1) EMPLOYEE; EMPLOYER.—The terms ‘‘em- 1 ployee’’ and ‘‘employer’’ have the meanings given 2 such terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards 3 Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203). 4 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 5 the Secretary of Labor. 6 SEC. 3. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. 7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 8 national certification program to award certifications to 9 recognize employers that have a commitment to helping 10 employees balance employment responsibilities and family 11 obligations (referred to in this section as ‘‘family-friendly 12 certifications’’). 13 (b) CRITERIA FOR CERTIFICATION.—In order to be 14 eligible to receive a family-friendly certification, an em- 15 ployer must carry out each of the following family-friendly 16 employment policies and benefits: 17 (1) Assistance paying for, or referring employ- 18 ees to, fertility or adoption services. 19 (2) Paid family leave of not less than 12 weeks 20 per year, including the option to use leave for any 21 of the following reasons: 22 (A) The birth of a son or daughter of the 23 employee and in order to care for such son or 24 daughter. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Jul 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3838.IH H3838 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HR 3838 IH (B) The placement of a son or daughter 1 with the employee for adoption or foster care. 2 (C) To address the employee’s own serious 3 health condition, including pregnancy or child- 4 birth. 5 (D) To address the serious health condi- 6 tion (as defined in section 101 of the Family 7 and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 8 2611)) of a family member. 9 (E) For specific military caregiving and 10 leave. 11 (3) Paid sick days for employees that are sepa- 12 rate from time accrued as part of a paid time off 13 policy. 14 (4) A subsidy for child care or policies that 15 allow parents to work alongside their infants in safe 16 settings. 17 (5) Policies that allow for flexible hours once a 18 parent returns to work after a birth, adoption, or 19 foster care placement. 20 (6) If feasible, policies that allow employees to 21 work remotely as needed for reasons related to the 22 care of a child. 23 (7) Lactation support, such as reimbursement 24 of expressed breastmilk delivery while on travel, ac- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Jul 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3838.IH H3838 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HR 3838 IH cess to pumps, kits, and other lactation supplies and 1 amenities, and access to lactation consultants and 2 support. 3 (c) APPLICATION.—An employer who desires to re- 4 ceive a family-friendly certification from the Secretary 5 under this section shall submit an application to the Sec- 6 retary at such time, containing such information, and in 7 such manner as the Secretary may require. 8 (d) AWARD OF CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall 9 review applications submitted under subparagraph (c) and 10 award a family-friendly certification to an employer whose 11 application demonstrates that the employer has met the 12 requirements established under subsection (b) regarding 13 family-friendly policies and benefits. 14 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 15 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 16 such sums as may be necessary. 17 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Jul 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3838.IH H3838 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS